More than seven years after the tragic passing of Davide Astori, former captain of Fiorentina, the Florence court has issued fresh convictions in connection with the falsification of medical certificates related to the defender’s health. The latest ruling marks another chapter in the long-running investigation into the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.
Astori died in his sleep on 4 March 2018 in a hotel room in Udine, just hours before Fiorentina were set to face Udinese in a Serie A match. The 31-year-old, a widely respected figure in Italian football and a key leader for both club and country, was later found to have suffered from arrhythmogenic ventricular cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition that had gone undiagnosed.
At the centre of the latest case were accusations that medical certifications had been falsified, enabling Astori to continue playing despite underlying cardiac risks. The Florence court sentenced Giorgio Galanti, the former director of sports medicine at Careggi hospital, to one year in prison for falsification of a medical document. He had previously been definitively convicted of manslaughter and received a one-year suspended sentence for issuing Astori two fitness certificates without carrying out adequate cardiac examinations in violation of medical guidelines.
Two other medical professionals were also found guilty in this week’s ruling. Dr Loria Toncelli received an eight-month sentence, while Professor Pietro Amedeo Modesti was handed the same penalty and additionally convicted of destruction of an official document. Prosecutor Antonio Nastasi had initially requested longer sentences, three and a half years for Galanti, one year and four months for Modesti, and three years for Toncelli, but the court imposed lighter sentences after it ruled out the aggravating circumstance of a fidefacente certificate, meaning one that carries special evidentiary value under Italian law.
The civil party claims for damages, which were submitted by the lawyers representing Astori’s family, including his long-time partner Francesca Fioretti, their daughter Vittoria, and his parents and brother, were rejected by the court.
Speaking after the verdict, Fioretti expressed quiet determination. “Regardless of criminal, civil, or legal responsibility, the fact remains that this happened,” she said. “And it is right that the truth comes out because the fact was committed regardless of who may be at fault.”
Astori’s death sent shockwaves throughout Italian football in 2018. Tributes poured in from teammates, rivals, fans, and clubs around the world. Fiorentina retired his number 13 shirt in his honour, and his passing served as a sobering reminder of the importance of rigorous medical screening in professional sport.
While the legal process continues to unfold, Friday’s ruling adds another piece to a case that has deeply touched the Italian football community and raised lasting questions about medical oversight and athlete safety.
