Roma’s Serie A match against Udinese was halted when Ivory Coast’s star Evan Ndicka collapsed on the field with chest pains.
The 24-year-old Ivory Coast defender was taken away by medical staff in the 74th minute of the game, leading to the abandonment of the match.
As the Serie A match neared its end at Stadio Friuli, the Ivory Coast star player, Ndicka fell to the ground clutching his chest while Roma had possession of the ball.
According to the Sun, the footballer was quickly attended to on the field before being stretchered off, reassuring concerned fans with a thumbs-up gesture on his way out.
Roma coach Daniele De Rossi checked on Ndicka in the dressing room and later updated the team on his condition.
At that moment, a decision was made to halt the game, which Udinese willingly agreed to.
Subsequently, the Roma players gathered together, as the referee briefed both teams on the situation and after some deliberation, the referee blew his whistle, signaling for the players to exit the field.
Ndicka’s health condition
Initial examinations in the locker room indicated that Ndicka may have experienced a heart attack, prompting his transfer to the hospital for additional evaluation.
However, Roma have released an official statement showing their support for Ndicka, which reads: “Following the on-field medical emergency involving Evan Ndicka, the match between Udinese and Roma has been suspended. The player is conscious and has been taken to hospital for further checks. Forza Evan, we are all with you!”
Evan Ndicka and his stats
Obite Evan Ndicka is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Roma.
He was born in France on the 20th of August 1999 but he plays for the Ivory Coast national team.
Ndicka is an academy graduate of Auxerre and made his senior debut for the club in January 2017, aged 17. He spent the next season-and-half at the club, making 14 senior appearances before joining Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in July 2018.
The 24-year-old player signed a five-year deal with Roma after transferring from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.
Beginning his career at Auxerre in France, the tall centre-back progressed through the youth system and played for France up to the Under-21 level.
He later switched allegiances to Ivory Coast, earning 14 caps for the national team. Prior to his medical issue during the match against Udinese, he had played in 27 games across all competitions.
What’s next?
According to Serie A regulations, the suspended match will be continued at a later time starting from the exact moment it was interrupted.
The teams must maintain the same players on the field, including those who scored goals like Roberto Pereyra and Romelu Lukaku before the game was paused.
