AS Monaco’s Under 19 soccer team passed over the doomed Morandi bridge in Genoa just 90 minutes before the tragedy that cost 39 lives on the morning of Tuesday, August 14.

The youngsters were on their way to play a friendly against Sampdoria Genoa, according to a news report in local French daily Monaco Matin.

It was only after the game that the players learned the shocking news. A friendly game for the two clubs’ Under 17 players, due to be held next week, has been cancelled as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives.

The Monaco club published a tweet, saying: “All our thoughts are with our Genoese neighbours.”