Italian midfielder Edoardo Bove, 22, of Fiorentina, collapsed unconscious during a Serie A match against Inter on Sunday. Prior to his collapse, he had clashed with Dutch player Denzel Dumfries and went to the bench to change his shirt, visibly affected.

The incident occurred just minutes after Bove took a blow to the torso from Dumfries, which is believed to have caused the cardiac arrest that followed at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence. While on the bench, Bove reportedly told the coaching staff that he felt dizzy, according to local media reports on Monday.

Everything unfolded within minutes. After Dumfries' collision with Bove, there were almost no plays before Bove lost consciousness. It was the 17th minute of the match when Inter scored, with Lautaro Martínez converting a long pass from Dumfries. However, the referee ruled the goal out to check if the ball had gone out of play.

As the players protested both for and against the decision, Bove bent over, initially appearing to tie his shoelaces, but a social media video revealed that he was trying to regain his strength. He then stood up, took two steps, and collapsed in front of the Inter bench. Dumfries and Calhanoglu quickly noticed, and Inter coach Simone Inzaghi rushed to the field to help, slipping along the way.

Fiorentina's Danilo Cataldi attempted to prevent Bove from choking on his tongue, and medical staff from both teams and the stadium quickly took control of the situation. Players and coaching staff formed a circle around Bove, while some ran to call for the ambulance.

By protocol, the ambulance waited at the nearest exit, with all necessary equipment prepared. After about five minutes, Bove was transported to the Careggi University Hospital in Florence, where he regained consciousness. He had been resuscitated after cardiac arrest and spent the night in intensive care under sedation.

The match was immediately suspended, with players showing concern and many Fiorentina players in tears. The crowd at the Artemio Franchi Stadium was left silent, reflecting on past tragedies, including the 2018 death of their captain, Davide Astori, and the recent passing of club official Joe Barone—both related to heart issues but not occurring during a match.

The most recent similar incident in Italian football occurred in April, during the Udinese-Roma game when Ivorian defender Evan Ndicka collapsed mid-match. Ndicka, however, was in better condition when he left the field, though he was also taken to the hospital.

Fiorentina and Careggi University Hospital issued a statement confirming Bove's stable condition upon arrival at the hospital. "The first cardiological and neurological tests ruled out acute damage to the central nervous and cardiorespiratory systems. He will be reevaluated in the next 24 hours," the statement added.

A further medical update will be issued later today after more tests. Serie A will also announce the date for the remaining minutes of the suspended match.