Evan Ndicka's Scare During Udinese-Roma: Match Suspended After Health Fright

At the 72nd minute, a chill descends on the Dacia Arena. Roma's defender Evan Ndicka collapses on the ground during Udinese-Roma and signals that he is experiencing severe chest pain. The Roma players loudly call for the paramedics, with De Rossi being one of the first to try to speed up the operations from the bench. The player does not lose consciousness, and a defibrillator is also brought onto the field, which is then not used. A few minutes pass during which De Rossi also approaches the huddle of players around the defender to reassure himself of his condition. Then the medics take him away on a stretcher. The Dacia Arena applauds but remains breathless as Ndicka gives a thumbs up to the bench. However, the fear remains palpable, also because the Roma coach does not immediately resume the game even though Smalling was about to enter. He wants to first ascertain the defender's actual condition, who had returned to the locker room, and goes to join him. Then he comes back and says 'he's fine' because Ndicka is indeed conscious but he senses the tension of his players and first asks Cioffi, Udinese's coach, and then the referee Pairetto, to definitively suspend the match. 'The boys can't go on.' Just taken off the field, conscious and cooperative, he was subjected to an electrocardiogram in the locker room. The examination raised some doubts about the possibility of cardiac disorders, and so he was transferred by ambulance to the Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital in Udine. Where the possibility of a heart attack was then ruled out. The Roma bus, with coach Daniele De Rossi, the entire team and staff on board, then went to the Udine hospital to check on their teammate's condition. Addressing the crowd of journalists and camera operators present, the Roma coach smiled reassuringly, exclaiming 'good, good.' De Rossi then joined his players who were waiting for him in the team's bus outside the hospital. 'Evan Ndicka is feeling better, is in good spirits and will remain in hospital for observation.' This was announced by Roma in a tweet, posting a photo of Ndicka.