Sevilla’s Puerta dies

MADRID – Sevilla midfielder Antonio Puerta died yesterday, three days after collapsing during a Primera Liga match.

The 22-year-old Spanish international had been in a critical condition in the Virgen del Rocio hospital in Seville since being admitted on Saturday. The hospital confirmed his death.Sevilla said that Puerta’s body would be taken to the club’s Sanchez Pizjuan stadium where fans could pay their respects and that the player would be buried on Thursday.The player was due to become a father in under two months, Spanish media reported.Puerta’s condition has completely overshadowed the Sevilla squad’s preparations for the Champions League third qualifying round second leg against AEK Athens in Greece on Tuesday.The club’s radio reported that Uefa had agreed to postpone the game and the Spanish Football League also called off the league game at Osasuna on Monday.An AEK spokesman said the Champions League tie would be played on Monday September 3.AC Milan, Sevilla’s opponents in Friday’s European Super Cup, expressed their condolences at the player’s death, saying they were prepared to call off the game if necessary.”AC Milan…grieve at the passing of Antonio Puerta and share the pain of our friends at Sevilla and the player’s family,” the club said in a statement.Nampa-ReutersThe hospital confirmed his death.Sevilla said that Puerta’s body would be taken to the club’s Sanchez Pizjuan stadium where fans could pay their respects and that the player would be buried on Thursday.The player was due to become a father in under two months, Spanish media reported.Puerta’s condition has completely overshadowed the Sevilla squad’s preparations for the Champions League third qualifying round second leg against AEK Athens in Greece on Tuesday.The club’s radio reported that Uefa had agreed to postpone the game and the Spanish Football League also called off the league game at Osasuna on Monday.An AEK spokesman said the Champions League tie would be played on Monday September 3.AC Milan, Sevilla’s opponents in Friday’s European Super Cup, expressed their condolences at the player’s death, saying they were prepared to call off the game if necessary.”AC Milan…grieve at the passing of Antonio Puerta and share the pain of our friends at Sevilla and the player’s family,” the club said in a statement.Nampa-Reuters