Fiorentina’s head coach, Vincenzo Italiano, accompanied by several players, has made a visit to the hospital to attend to the director, Joe Barone, who fell ill, resulting in the cancellation of the scheduled match against Atalanta. The Serie A fixture, slated to commence at 17:00 GMT at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, was disrupted due to the sudden illness of the director general within the team’s hotel premises, amidst the presence of multiple players and staff.
Subsequently, Barone was promptly transported to the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, renowned for its medical expertise. In light of this unforeseen circumstance, Fiorentina expressed their dismay, leading the Lega Serie A to accommodate their request for postponement of the match to a later date.
In a demonstration of solidarity, Coach Italiano, along with team captain Cristiano Biraghi and other players, proceeded to the hospital to offer support to Barone. Reports indicate that he is currently receiving care in the intensive care unit following a suspected aneurysm.
Joe Barone, an Italian-American executive, is on the verge of celebrating his 58th birthday on Wednesday, having served at Fiorentina under President Rocco Commisso since November 2019.