The official presentation of the 2018 Viareggio Cup started with a touching minute's silence in memory of Davide Astori, the 31-year-old Fiorentina captain who tragically died yesterday ahead of the Serie A game against Udinese.

 

The tournament is scheduled to start on Monday 12 March and Viareggio is the main hosting city with 10 matches in a fortnight. Italian national television RAI is broadcasting 17 games throughout the entire competition.

 

CGC Viareggio chairman Alessandro Palagi alsor recalled that Astori participated in two different editions of the Viareggio Cup, playing for AC Milan in 2005 and 2006. During the official presentation at the Gran Teatro Puccini in Torre del Lago in the presence of Viareggio mayor Giorgio Del Ghingaro, Palagi himself announced the winners of the Viareggio Cup special awards.

 

RAI journalist Paola Ferrari is the first female journalist to win the Premio Bruno Roghi, UEFA vice-president Michele Uva has been awarded the Premio Torquato Bresciani, Italy national team interim head coach Luigi Di Biagio is the winner of Premio Gaetano Scirea and journalist Loris Marzocchi, former head of Viareggio Cup press office, has won the Premio CGC Viareggio.

 

The name of the professional footballer who is taking the tradional oath will be announced afterwards, as yesterday Serie A matchday has been postponed due to the tragic death of Davide Astori.