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Recently, the Football Association (FA) of England made another controversial decision and did not punish the horrific tackle by "Wigan" defender Callum McManaman on "Newcastle" defender Massadio Haidara during the Premier League match last Sunday. "Wigan" team owner Dave Whelan described this tackle as a "fair challenge", but this footballer's flight will extend the list of the most horrific football tackles.
C. McManaman's tackle:
Graeme Souness on Gheorghe Rotariu (1988)
This brutal tackle by a Scottish player was recorded in a European Cup match between the clubs "Rangers" and "Steaua" Bucharest. One of G. Rotariu's teammates, G. Popescu, said: "Souness almost killed him. It was a terrifying tackle, one of the most violent matches I have seen."
Punishment: none
Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston (1982)
The collision of the West German goalkeeper with the French defender P. Battiston remains one of the most horrible tackles in World Cup history. Battiston lost three teeth and remained unconscious on the field.
Punishment: none, the referee awarded a penalty in favor of the Germans
Martin Taylor on Eduardo (2008)
Birmingham City player M. Taylor received three death threats after the tackle on Eduardo. The guilty footballer always claimed that the action was not intentional and said he received a lot of support from those around him.
Punishment: red card
Andoni Goikoetxea on Maradona (1983)
After this tackle by the "Athletic Bilbao" defender, Maradona's ankle was severely injured.
Punishment: none. Goikoetxea was nicknamed "The Butcher of Bilbao"
Paul Gascoigne on Gary Charles (1991)
A brutal jump ended the guard's career. G. Charles had to have his knee ligaments severed during the FA Cup final, and the player had to be carried off the field himself.
Punishment: none
Roy Keane on Alf-Inge Haaland (2001)
During the Manchester derby, R. Keane simply cut down Haaland, who had to be carried off the field. Later, the United attacker wrote in his autobiography that he was waiting for this opportunity, as allegedly in the 1997-1998 season Haaland supposedly stepped on R. Keane on purpose.
Punishment: red card, £5000 fine and 3-match suspension. After confessing, R. Keane was fined £150,000 and suspended for another 5 matches.
Lee Bowyer on Gerardo (2003)
UEFA called this incident a "serious assault". The Leeds guard first committed a foul against the Malaga player, and then even jumped on his head. A few moments earlier, L. Bowyer had already received a yellow card for a foul on the same Gerardo.
Punishment: the referees did not notice the incident, but UEFA suspended L. Bowyer for six games.
Ben Thatcher on Mendes (2006)
After Ben Thatcher deliberately hit "Portsmouth" guard Mendes in the face with his elbow, the latter asked for oxygen.
Punishment: an eight-match suspension (later B. Thatcher was suspended for 2 years).
Ryan Shawcross on Aaron Ramsey (2010)
After the action by the "Stoke City" defender, A. Ramsey suffered a double leg fracture and the "Arsenal" guard missed more than a year of football.
Punishment: red card, suspension for three matches.
Nigel De Jong on Xabi Alonso (2010)
"One of the most horrific tackles I've ever experienced," said Alonso after the tense World Cup final between the Spanish and Dutch teams. Later, De Jong said that he was treated like a war criminal after this incident.
Punishment: yellow card
Source: "The Telegraph."
