Investigation after Lazio claim current Serie A player failed 2019 cardiac medical

An investigation has been opened after Lazio medic Ivo Pulcini claimed a current Serie A player failed a medical in 2019 and ‘was not fit to play football’ due to cardiac anomalies.

The issue of medical checks on players has inevitably climbed back to the forefront after Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove collapsed during Sunday’s Serie A match against Inter.

He is now in hospital and undergoing further tests to ascertain what caused the collapse and brief cardiac arrest.

All players in Serie A must undergo strict checks before they are given the so-called ‘idoneità sportiva’ – a certificate from the authorities confirming he is fit and healthy enough to play sport at a professional level.

This was the test that Lens defender Kevin Danso failed over the summer, highlighting cardiac irregularities and prompting the abandonment of the transfer.

Lazio urge probe into medical checks

Now Lazio chief medic Ivo Pulcini has caused controversy with an interview in Il Messaggero newspaper where he suggests the tests are not being implemented correctly.

“In 2019 I examined a very important player, who now is doing very well and is currently playing in Serie A, but I found he was not fit to play football.

“Our then director Igli Tare wanted him at all costs, so we took him to three different clinics for checks, but they all came back with the same answer.”

Now FIGC prosecutor Giuseppe Chinè has opened an investigation to find out who it is and whether any steps were skipped in the testing process.

There are already those checking the dates and suggesting it could be a reference to current Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic, who failed a medical with Lazio in 2019 when he was still at Partizan Belgrade.

Since then, he has played for AS Monaco, Cercle Bruges, FC Basel, RB Salzburg and joined Milan for €20m including bonuses in July 2024.