Alfie Evans given touching tribute by Lazio fans during Serie A Torino clash after tot’s death last week
LAZIO fans paid a touching tribute to Alfie Evans during their Serie A match at Torino following the tot's death last week.
The Rome club's travelling supporters have a reputation for causing trouble after racist chants and "Nazi salutes" in the past.
But a section of fans yesterday showed a different side by honouring Alfie, whose dad had met the Pope to discuss the youngster being taken to Italy for treatment.
One banner unfurled in the away section during their 1-0 victory read "Alfie Evans... Goodbye", while another in Italian translated as "goodbye little warrior".
Alfie passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning in a Liverpool hospital after losing his battle with illness.
The 23-month-old had a degenerative brain condition, which his parents believe was initially misdiagnosed.
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Alfie was in coma for a year and had his life support withdrawn last Monday.
The Bootle-based couple wanted to fly the toddler to an Italian hospital for treatment.
But this was rejected by doctors who said continuing treatment was "not in Alfie's best interests".
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Alder Hey Hospital said their scans showed "catastrophic degradation of his brain tissue" and that more treatment was not only "futile" but also "unkind and inhumane".
His parents broke news of Alfie's death on Facebook, saying: "Our baby boy grew his wings tonight at 2:30 am. We are heartbroken."
The Pope tweeted: "I am deeply moved by the death of little Alfie."