24-year-old Italian soccer star Evan Ndicka has collapsed suddenly while clutching his chest in the middle of a game.
The shocking incident brought the stadium to a halt as emergency medical teams rushed onto the field while stunned fans watched on.
The game was abandoned after it was confirmed that Ndicka had suffered a heart attack.
A video shows the moment after Ndicka collapsed and can be seen grabbing at his chest before he received medical treatment.
He was promptly stretchered away before being rushed to the hospital.
Ndicka was not in control of the ball at the time he collapsed and had not been in physical contact with any other players immediately before the incident.
WATCH:
🚨🇮🇹 Live Italian Serie A match suspended as Roma player N’Dicka suffers another ‘coincidence’ off the ball & is stretchered off.
At what point do athletes start demanding answers as to what’s happening?
Hopefully he’ll be ok. pic.twitter.com/t4C9YHzF7Q
— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) April 14, 2024
The incident occurred during a Serie A clash on Sunday evening.
Around 16 minutes remained at the Stadio Friuli and the score was 1-1 when the game was called off due to concerns over the French-born center-back’s wellbeing.
Roma striker and Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku equalized in the 64th minute after former Watford midfielder Roberto Pereyra had given the hosts an early lead.
Shortly after Lukaku’s strike, Ndicka was seen sitting down on the turf after raising his hand to his chest moments prior.
Medical staff were immediately called for and the Ivory Coast international was quickly taken off the pitch on a stretcher.
Play was suspended for 15 minutes before a decision was made to abandon the match.
Both teams were seen talking to match referee Luca Pairetto, who made it clear that he’d respect their wishes over the continuation of play.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma boss Daniele De Rossi gathered his players in a circle and told them, as well as Pairetto, that Ndicka had suffered a heart attack.
Once the decision to abandon the contest was communicated to the Stadio Friuli crowd, both sets of fans applauded.
Despite holding his chest, Ndicka appeared to give a thumbs-up as he was taken off.
However, there was evidently too much concern among the teams and fans to continue.
Roma has since confirmed that the 24-year-old is now conscious after being taken to a hospital in the city of Udine.
The remainder of the match could be finished on Monday evening, if Roma elects to remain in Udine on Sunday night.
If not, the final 16 minutes or so of the Serie A fixture will likely be played at a later date, rather than the entire game.
Around three hours after Ndicka collapsed, Roma updated fans with a social media post on X, stating:
“The squad went to visit Ndicka at the hospital.
“Evan is feeling better and is in good spirits.
“He will remain in the hospital for further observations. Forza Evan!”
The squad went to visit Ndicka at the hospital.
Evan is feeling better and is in good spirits. He will remain in the hospital for further observations.
Forza Evan! 💪#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/iHWueyJ6Ip
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) April 14, 2024
Ndicka joined Roma last summer, signing on a free transfer after five seasons with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
The left-footed defender, who was born in Paris, came through the ranks at French club Auxerre.
With Roma sitting fifth in the league table, De Rossi made some big changes to his starting XI for a trip to face Udinese, as Ndicka came back into the team after missing the Giallorossi’s last two fixtures in all competitions.
De Rossi said ahead of Sunday’s abandoned fixture:
“[Paulo] Dybala and (Lorenzo) Pellegrini can still play although I made the decision to bench Dybala.”
“Pellegrini, on the other hand, has a minor problem that needs to be taken care of.
“The other choices were a bit forced by the circumstances.
“We will have to beware of Udinese and their set pieces.
“Today we have a tricky match on our hands and we must be careful.”
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