Serie A star dead in car crash

ROME, Italy -- Chievo forward and Democratic Republic of Congo international Jason Mayele has been killed in a car crash in Verona.

"Mayele was in a car on his way to the team coach," a Chievo club spokesman told Reuters.

Sunday's Serie A match between Chievo and Parma has been postponed until March 13 "as a mark of respect in this time of mourning," Italian football league vice-president Adriano Galliani was quoted as saying by Italian news agency ANSA.

Chievo president Luca Campadelli was devastated by Mayele's death.

"It's terrible news," he was quoted as saying on the Gazzetta Dello Sport Web site.

"The players knew when they were almost ready to depart that it seemed strange that Mayele was late and we were all worried.

"He was a great lad with a great love for life and one who really played his part in the group."

Chievo coach Luigi Del Neri said: "He had integrated himself into the group well.

"The game with Parma has no importance at this point and I will suffer this tragedy all my life.

"We have lost a great deal on a personal level and this makes us understand something important -- football is just a game."

Mayele, 31, joined Chievo from Cagliari last October and has made 10 Serie A appearances for the club this season.

According to the Gazzetta Dello Sport Web site, Italian Football Federation president Franco Carraro has ordered clubs to observe a one-minute silence during this weekend's matches.

Mayele's death is the latest in a series of road accidents involving Italian soccer stars.

Less than two months ago, Brescia defender Vittorio Mero was killed in a car crash.

Juventus players, including Alessandro Del Piero, were involved in a car accident on their return from a Sunday evening game against Chievo and Fiorentina midfielder was also involved in a car accident earlier this year.