Everton midfielder Andre Gomes will have surgery on Monday after suffering a horrific ankle injury in Sunday's Premier League match against Tottenham.
The Portuguese was taken straight to hospital where he has been diagnosed with a fracture dislocation to his right ankle.
A distressed Son Heung-min of Spurs was sent off in the 79th minute for the tackle on the Portuguese player.
There was a six-minute stoppage as medics tended to Gomes.
The incident looked innocuous, but the mood changed among the players and crowd after they saw the full impact.
The match eventually finished 1-1 after Cenk Tosun's header in the 97th minute cancelled out Dele Alli's earlier effort.
'More than a football game'
Everton boss Silva backed Gomes, 26, to return stronger and also praised his players for their response.
"This is a bad moment for us and our team - this was more than a football game," he said. "We will give all support to Andre and his family. As a group we have to stay together and show the spirit we showed following the incident.
"Our players now, they are sad, a tough moment for us in our dressing room and for Andre, but the spirit we showed after that moment on the pitch I think is a good answer for you.
"He is seriously injured but I am 100% sure Andre will become stronger as a football player and as a man, because he is a fantastic lad, a fantastic professional."
The injury overshadowed the game in which Toffees substitute Tosun equalised in injury time.
"Everybody is sad inside. Some players, they nearly cried," said Tosun, who had been on the pitch just 10 minutes.
"He was in shock, his eyes were open so big. He was like crying, shouting and screaming.
"I just tried to hold him and speak to him. I tried to tell him to stay calm. We couldn't understand him."
Tosun added on Instagram later: "You win, you draw, you lose but all that doesn't matter when something like this happens."
"I wish I didn't score, I wish we lost 0-5 and this didn't happen. I know you will come back stronger bro and we will be there for you."
Everton midfielder Fabian Delph appeared to still be affected in a post-match TV interview when asked about his team-mate.
"He's one our brothers, someone we care about deeply," said the former Manchester City player. "It's hard to put into words. The sooner we can get in touch the better. That was difficult to see."
'Son can't lift his head up'
The TV replay suggested that Gomes suffered the injury after Son's tackle and before he collided with full-back Serge Aurier.
Goalscorer Alli said he found Son crying in the changing room after the final whistle.
"I didn't want to look too much at what happened," said the England midfielder. "I want to send Andre my best wishes.
"Son is devastated and in tears - it's not his fault. Son is one of nicest people you've ever met. He can't even lift his head up, he's crying so much.
"The injury does play on your mind during the match but you have to stay professional."
Former Toffees midfielder Pat Nevin, who was a summariser for BBC Radio 5 Live at Goodison Park, described the events in the immediate aftermath of the injury.
"This is horrible, horrible," said the Scot. "The players look devastated and there is utter confusion here. Players with their heads in their hands.
"Son deliberately tackles Gomes, but he does not cause that [the injury]. He is catapulted from that challenge on to Aurier. To blame Son and to say he did that deliberately is 100% wrong. Son is not like that, he is not that kind of guy.
"He does not deserve the treatment he is going to get on social media. He is devastated - he was the cause, but it was not his fault. It's just one of those things that happens in football."
'The players from Everton were fantastic'
Referee Martin Atkinson initially showed Son a yellow card before he changed it to red.
The Premier League explained: "The red card for Son was for endangering the safety of a player, which happened as a consequence of his initial challenge."
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists the forward had no intention of injuring Gomes and believes VAR should have rescinded the sending-off.
"It was clear it was never the intention of Son to create the problem that happened afterwards. It is unbelievable to see a red card," he said.
"In that situation we need to help because the decision of the referee was yellow card but the VAR changed the decision. It is the latest example of it being not clear.
"VAR needs to check if it was a bad tackle from Son and judge the action not what happened after.
"We all feel sorry for Andre. I want to send my best wishes to him and to his family in this tough moment. We want to send, on behalf of the squad, our best wishes."
Pochettino also revealed that Everton's club captain Seamus Coleman, who was out for a year after suffering a double-fracture of his lower leg in March 2017, spoke to Son afterwards.
"The players from Everton were fantastic. The captain came to the dressing room to console Son," said the Argentine.
"I want to say thank you to the players and Coleman, who came in on behalf of the squad of Everton."
Football world send best wishes to Gomes
Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford: Horrible to see anyone suffer an injury like that. Wishing you nothing but positivity.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy: Wishing Andre Gomes a speedy recovery.
Watford midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah: The football world is with you my friend. Stay strong.
Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin: Wishing Andre Gomes and Everton lots of luck, all the very best and a speedy recovery young man.
26201361(deleted)
2235
FOOTBALL IS A GREAT AND GIG FAMILY Every player feels sorry for Gomes and wish him fast recovery I really feel sorry for Gomes and I hope this doesn’t end his career or take him long injury, I wish him vary quick recovery and may God guide him through and make it easier for him Son is really a great guy we all know it’s unintentionally he was the one who coursed it but he was the one who made my tears 😭 fall down Also the players from Everton ware fantastic they made my day 🥺
SpecialStyle
1725
It is football. Son really didn't want to hurt Gomes. It was just an unfortunate matter. Pray is not enough for the situation All footballers should raise their helping hand to Gomes.
Lopbnrz
968
Son should be forgiven. Gomez I wish you quick recovery by His grace. My Jesus Christ heal you.
inaolaji92
790
Son deliberately injured Gomes prior to what Gomes has done to him before but he didn’t know it will e as bad as that! Wishing Andre speedy recovery and Son should be forgiven too! Football isn’t about hatred and retaliation
BlazeVashumCr7
627
It’s a part of game, this is football anything can happen on the pitch... You’ll be ok Bro it’s just a a Join twist, I know you’ll come back stronger... Son we love you.
tuhacmopt
417
Son should not be blamed. it wasn't intention. son is a professional sports man whom I think couldn't do anything to hurt an opponent like that
deevyn
386
forgiven because things like this happen in football,all though injuries like this are quite rare....have seen players that got injured more than this we just have to sympathize and wish Andre Gomes quick and safe recovery ....And we shouldn't blame son because he didn't do it intentional it's no players dream to see another player get hurt son too got emotional
RoverSanil
278
Get well soon Gomez 🙏🙏🙏 And It was not Sons fault. Let's Forget what happened and pray for Gomez and Enjoy the beautiful game of Football
Dodcampns
256
If you watched Gomes messed up his ankle when he fell into serge Aurier and the ball. The ball helped rotate and break his ankle when it rolled over it. Although it’s Son’s fault he went down in the first place. But when son tackled him he didn’t break his ankle.
claudespe
241
May God help Andre Gomes to recover very soon!We need him in these competitions!I am not happy because many blame Son.Son is a nice football player and to give him a red card does not mean he is responsible of a fracture dislocation on his ankle.Look for another player responsible like Aurier.This is what I want to say to Son:"We know that you are a pure and nice player.Don't blame yourself for what you did not do,but because you are a loving player,you were crying!I am sorry and I appreciate you for this kindness."To Gomes:" Andre Gomes,try hard to overcome this,this is not an end,God will cure you and you will come back recoverd and play again,we need you so much!We will pray for you,for your family and for your club."
Jamirl
225
in situations like this you don't worry who's to blame,because the attitude of son yesterday showed that he was indeed sorry to see he's fellow man get injured..I wish Andre Gomes quick and sound recovery because that's what he really needs now
christopherk02
202
I feel really bad for both players (Gomes and Son). You could easily tell Son didn’t mean it as soon as Son got up and saw what he did. He obviously didn’t mean it, and you could tell by the looks on his face, the look of shock and distraught. I wish Gomes a good and speedy recovery. I think Son should be forgiven, he was also in tears almost right away seeing Gomes on the ground. I wish nothing but the best for these two players
Blue_Messiah
106
it's football, man. things happen bad and good. but this time I honestly think Son didn't do it intentionally, although it was a tackle from behind.....the collide with Aurier made it worse. Son should be forgiven. He got a red card, therefore he IS suspended and I guess it's fair that way.
moseslule
92
son is a polite n kind guy on the pitch, he doesn't foul like those Ramos, Dhaka and so on and such an accident might have not come with his involvement but football is all about that he was trying to do for his team and we pray for gomes' quick recovery and son our hero also comes back strong
SingamFootball
8
On the side of story, Martin Atkinson should've been Blamed for the Armpit offside decision... hereafter, Son shall be Forgiven as well