For fans of Udinese and AS Roma, it was a disappointing and potentially very distressing weekend, as their clash on Sunday had to be abandoned as Roma defender Evan Ndicka collapsed on the field of play.
Having suffered his issue in the 72nd minute of the game, and being subsequently stretchered off the pitch, it was later revealed that the 24 year old Ivory Coast international had suffered crippling chest pains – but thankfully tests conducted at the local hospital had confirmed that he did not suffer a heart attack.
Despite now being released from hospital, he is obviously undergoing further tests and assessments but thankfully it appears it may just have been an isolated problem, and he is absolutely fine following treatment. That does not mean he did not suffer a serious health condition though, as prior to his discharge on Monday it was revealed that he had suffered a collapsed lung.
Naturally, even though he is back at home, his medical team and those at the club, will be ensuring that this is not an issue that will raise its ugly head again, but with the obvious positives that come from it not being cardiac or heart related, many will have their fingers crossed that it was truly an isolated incident and they will take solace (as no doubt Ndicka will) from the fact that he was only kept under observation for one night before the medical professionals were happy for him to leave.
Roma have rightly thanked the ‘professionalism’ of Udinese and referee Luca Pairetto in the moment, and as well as giving their thanks to medical staff at the game, they also expressed their thanks to the staff at the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital in Udine.
Interim gaffer Danielle De Rossi explained.
“A collapsed lung is a painful thing but luckily, if we can say that, he’s not suffering from what we feared.”
Having joined the club as a free agent from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023, he has played 19 Serie A games so far for the side, and it has already been confirmed that with the game being abandoned at 1-1, the remaining minutes of the tie will be finished at a later date – which is an interesting prospect in itself given 18 regulation minutes remain.
In any event, some good has come from the unfortunate incident though. Roma are now organising an initiative that will offer free heart screenings for fans over the age of 45 at a local hospital prior to their next home clash against Bologna on April 22, and there will certainly be Italian fans of other colours who feel all clubs should follow suit in such endeavours.
