Evan Ndicka, a Roma defender, is currently hospitalised following an on-field collapse during a Serie A game against Udinese on Sunday. The incident led to the match at Bluenergy Stadium being halted at the 72-minute mark with a 1-1 tie on the scoreboard. Ndicka, aged 24 and hailing from the Ivory Coast, fell suddenly while not in possession of the ball. After pitchside treatment, he was carried away on a stretcher.
Roma subsequently provided assurance that Ndicka, an ex-Auxerre and Eintracht Frankfurt player, was recuperating and in high spirits following his arrival at the hospital. Roma’s official X account issued a statement indicating that the team had visited Ndicka in the hospital and he was showing signs of improvement, although he would remain there for further monitoring.
The referees chose not to resume the game following Ndicka’s emergency and his subsequent departure to the hospital. In a post, Roma shared that Ndicka was conscious and was taken to the hospital for further examination, expressing collective support for the athlete. Udinese also extended their solidarity to Ndicka via a social media post.
Before the abrupt end to the game, Udinese’s Roberto Pereyra had scored the opening goal, only for Romelu Lukaku to level the score for Roma 64 minutes in.