The Premier League has seen its fair share of horror tackles recently with Karl Henry at the centre of attention for a number of violent challenges.
In light of Henry’s efforts, we’ve decided to compile our top 10 lists of horror challenges and it doesn’t make for pretty viewing.
10. Francesco Totti on Carsten Ramelow
Totti may be one of the most gifted players of his generation but he is also a bit of a menace as shown by this disgraceful stamp on Bayer Leverkusen’s Carsten Ramelow. Totti decided that it would be a good idea to introduce his studs to Ramelow’s side after he evaded the German’s initial challenge. Incredibly, Totti was only yellow carded for this wonton act of violence.
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9. Ben Thatcher on Pedro Mendes
Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher practically committed GBH on Portmouth’s Pedro Mendes when the two teams met in November 2006.
Thatcher knocked Mendes out cold with a vicious leading elbow which connected with Mendes’ face. The Portuguese midfielder was rendered unconscious immediately but Thatcher proceeded to argue with the Portsmouth players about the severity of his challenge.
Mendes required oxygen on the pitch while also suffering a seizure on his way to hospital. For his challenge, Thatcher received a 6 week fine and 6 game ban from Manchester City as well as a separate 8 game ban from the FA.
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8. Benjamin Massing on Claudio Caniggia
There are many ways to stop a swift counter attack and Cameroon defender Benjamin Massing took the most cynical option.
In Cameroon’s opening match of the 1990 World Cup against Argentina, Massing put the brakes on Argentina’s counter attack by scything down Claudio Caniggia with a tackle that can only be described as agricultural.
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7. Martin Taylor on Eduardo
Arsenal are no stranger to horror tackles and Eduardo was on the receiving end of arguably the most notorious one when Birmingham defender Martin Taylor snapped Eduardo’s leg like a twig with his over the ball challenge. Taylor’s tackle left the Arsenal man with a broken left fibula and a dislocated ankle and kept him out of action for almost a year.
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6. Nuno Claro on Georgian Paun
Goalkeepers aren’t known for their tackling skills and this is probably why. CFR Cluj goalie Nuno Claro decides that he is going to come and try and clear a long-ball aimed for Astra striker Georgian Paun. Paun gets to the ball first and knocks it over the onrushing Claro.
Clauro is beaten all ends up by Paun’s skill so he chose to get on back on the striker by landing a vicious kick to Paun’s chest.
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5. Axel Witsel on Marcin Wasilewski
Witsel was originally banned for nearly three months for this shocking tackle on Anderlecht’s Polish defender Marcin Wasilewski. Witsel went straight over the top of the ball and stamped on Wasilewski’s outstretched leg. The tackle snapped Wasilewski’s leg in two, leaving the defender out of action for thirteen months.
Witsel received numerous death threats from Anderlecht fans who were incensed at the recklessness of his challenge.
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4. Nigel de Jong on Xabi Alonso
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong must have been taking lessons from Nuno Claro on how to do a karate kick as he executed it to perfection on Xabi Alonso in this summer’s World Cup final. As Alonso went to head the ball, de Jong aimed a shot at Alonso’s chest that even Mr. Miyagi would have been proud of.
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3. Julien Rodriguez on Edson
While Nigel de Jong and Nuno Claro’s kicks may have been bad, they have nothing on our next challenge by Monaco midfielder Julien Rodriguez on Ajaccio’s Edson. In what I can only hope was an accident, Rodriguez catches Edson flush in the face with a brutal kick.
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2. Roy Keane on Alf-Inge Haaland
Manchester United hard man Roy Keane isn’t one to forget a grudge. Keane injured his ACL in a match against Leeds while trying to tackle Haaland. While Keane was injured, Haaland claimed that Keane was making the most of his injury to avoid further punishment from the referee. Keane was given a yellow card and was stretchered off the field.
Fast forward three years later to 2001 when Haaland’s new club Manchester City came to Old Trafford. Keane waited until the last 5 minutes of the game before unleashing a horrendous knee high challenge that left Haaland prostrate on the ground.
Keane was instantly red carded and handed a three match ban but further punishment was to follow. In his autobiography, Keane admitted that he had intended to hurt Haaland and that the injury was premeditated. He said:
“I'd waited long enough. I f***ing hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries”.
Keane was charged by the FA for bringing the game into disrepute and was banned for a further 5 games while also handing him a £150,000 fine.
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1. Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston
At number one spot is West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher whose horrific challenge on Patrick Battiston left the defender unconscious and in a coma.
Battiston came on in the second half the 1982 World Cup semi-final and found himself through on goal from a ball by Michel Platini. Schumacher ran out of his goal to meet Battiston as he was just about to shoot. Just as he was shooting, Schumacher jumped in the air and twisted his body towards Battiston. As he was turning, Schumacher collided with Battiston’s face.
Battiston fell to the ground unconscious with damaged vertebrae and teeth knocked out. Michel Platini said afterwards that he thought Battiston was dead as “he had no pulse and looked pale”.
In the end, Schumacher wasn’t even given a yellow card as the referee didn’t deem the challenge a foul.
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Any other horror challenges you feel should have made the list?
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