SOCCER: ITALY'S TROUBLED preparation for Euro 2012 took a tragic turn yesterday, with the cancellation of their friendly against Luxembourg in Parma following the confirmation of fatalities in the earthquake which struck nearby.

Fifteen deaths, with more anticipated, were reported in the hours after the morning earthquake, measured at 5.9 on the Richter scale, which struck the Emilia Romagnan region. Although Parma is 210 kilometres from the Irish team hotel in Montecatini, tremors were experienced throughout the town.

An FAI statement, released at midday, read: “An earthquake was experienced in Parma, 210 km away from the Irish team’s training camp in Montecatini this morning at 9.03am. Tremors were felt in Montecatini. Nothing was noticed on the ground floor of the team hotel. However, some light movement was experienced in the higher levels. Everything is fine in camp. The thoughts and prayers of Giovanni, Marco and the squad are with the dead and injured in the neighbouring Emilia Romagnan region.”

Guests on the higher floors of the team and media hotels in Montecatini spoke of hearing a low rumbling sound just after 9am. This was followed by furniture shifting and a slow, swaying sensation. The movements were strong enough to cause doors to swing back and forth and light objects to move.

FAI chief executive John Delaney was in a meeting on the ground floor of the hotel and felt nothing. Giovanni Trapattoni was watching John O’Shea and Paul McShane undergo fitness tests and was also unaware of the commotion. Some of the players in the higher floors did feel the disturbance. There was a second, shorter tremor around noon.