Victim of a fainting spell during AS Roma’s trip to Udinese, Ivorian defender Evan N’dicka sent shivers down many spines, even though he is now reported to be out of danger. Unfortunately, another similar case, which occurred yesterday Sunday in Italy, turned tragic with the loss of life… A wave of general panic sweeps through Italian football.
Ivory Coast, Africa, and all football enthusiasts trembled this Sunday evening following the collapse of AS Roma’s defender, Evan N’dicka, on the pitch during his team’s match against Udinese in Serie A. While the game was generally proceeding well, the 2023 African champion, hand on heart, lay down on the field (video of the fainting spell). Quickly attended to by the medical staff, Evan N’dicka was transported to the hospital while conscious. After the AS Roma players’ visit, the danger to the life of the Ivorian is averted, although he remains under observation.
The other tragedy after N’dicka’s fainting spell. However, in Italy, fear reigns with a new case occurring yesterday Sunday. As reported by Corriere dello Sport, Mattia Giani, a footballer from the amateur team Castelfiorentino, also collapsed suddenly on the field during the Eccellenza Championship (D5) match against Lanciotto Campi in the fifteenth minute. Hailing from Ponte a Egola, the forward, who was developed in the youth teams of Empoli and then Pisa, passed away shortly after at the Careggi Hospital.
“Unfortunately, I have terrible news. Mattia did not survive. Words fail in these moments. It’s a terrible tragedy. All we can do is embrace his family and his club very tightly,” explained the mayor of Castelfiorentino. During his football career, he wore the jerseys of Grosseto, Real Querceta, and Tuttocuoio, also playing in Serie D. For the time being, Castelfiorentino United has decided to suspend all training activities of its teams. It’s a dramatic situation that is frightening, especially when considering what is being said following Evan N’dicka’s fainting spell. A problem related to vaccines?
Since the incident involving the AS Roma defender, several rumors have emerged suggesting a problem related to vaccines in Italy. According to some, there is a vaccine that leads to cardiac fainting spells. As these rumors escalate, Matteo Bassetti, director of the Clinic of Infectious Diseases at the San Martino Polyclinic in Genoa, broke the silence to refute this claim: “Some Italian politicians without any scientific expertise and – above all – without knowledge of medical reports – are interested in Evan Ndicka’s case, citing the usual suspicions about vaccines,” he wrote on X.
“I remind them that similar events have always occurred in Italian football, from Manfredonia to Morosini, passing through Curi and Astori, to name just a few. They do not realize the harm they are doing by denigrating vaccines and, indirectly, to the citizens they should protect and represent,” continued the Italian doctor. However, with the tragic death of the 26-year-old player, it is important to find a plausible explanation for the public who are concerned about the players’ health. With the recurrence of cases of cardiac crises that sometimes prove fatal to players, it is crucial to identify the source of Evan N’dicka’s and Mattia Gianni’s fainting spells. As indicated by sources close to AS Roma, additional examinations will be conducted to better understand the condition of the 24-year-old Ivorian defender.
As a reminder, the match between Roma and Udinese, which was halted in the 72nd minute, will resume at a later date. Whether with or without the African champion remains unknown for now.
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