Newcastle United’s return to the English Premier League didn’t get off to the best of starts on Sunday after Tottenham Hotspur visited St James’ Park and left with a 2-0 win.
After competing strongly in the first half and frustrating Mauricio Pochettino’s side, the second half started horribly. Captain Jonjo Shelvey lost his cool and stamped on the leg of Dele Alli, right under the nose of referee Andre Marriner, who was left with no choice but to show him a red card.
As you’d expect, from that point on Spurs gradually asserted their authority on the game and after Alli opened the scoring just after the hour mark, there was only going to be one winner.
It wasn’t the start manager Rafa Benitez was looking for but he can at least take comfort in the fact his team competed well with last season’s second-placed side right up to the point they went down to ten men.
Newcastle fans were left fuming with team captain Shelvey and took to Twitter to share their thoughts about his moment of madness…
Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson and Ibrox manager Gio van Bronckhorst will be working alongside each other this summer to bolster the squad with new additions.
The Gers will be hoping to find the new superstars of tomorrow to improve the team by sniffing out gems in the transfer market.
Over the years, the likes of Ronald De Boer, Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup represented the Glasgow giants, and some other legendary players also came close to making the switch.
One player for whom the club reportedly chased a deal was Dutch icon Dennis Bergkamp in the 1990’s before he signed for Premier League giants Arsenal.
The Ger were keen to snap him up from Italian outfit Inter Milan but failed to get a move over the line quickly enough, allowing the Gunners to come in and secure his services in 1995 for a fee of £7.5m.
This ended up being a big howler from then-manager Walter Smith, who did win 10 Premiership titles with the Gers, as Bergkamp went on to demonstrate his immense quality in England.
He ended his career with 410 appearances for Arsenal, winning three Premier League titles and four FA Cups along the way. The mercurial playmaker produced 113 goals and 94 assists for the north London club in all competitions as he consistently showcased his ability in the final third.
Instead of regularly delivering goals and assists in the Scottish top flight for the Gers, he enjoyed a phenomenal spell south of the border.
Jaap Stam called him “world-class” and former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger once lauded his talents, saying: “Dennis is a player who is admired by all the other players and was the first push of Arsenal into the modern, international era. [ . . . ] He brought creativity to this group of very strong players and it was a good marriage.”
His sublime goal against Newcastle United in 2002 has been ranked as one of the greatest in the history of the Premier League. Now… imagine if he produced moments like that in a Rangers shirt!
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Who knows what would have happened had Smith and the Gers moved with a bit more urgency to get the deal over the line. Bergkamp may not have fulfilled his potential in the way that he did at Arsenal, or maybe he could have exploded at Ibrox and been a joy for the fans to watch.
Talk about one that got away…
AND in other news, Was £2.7m, went to £162m: Rangers fumbled deal for “alien” who’s the “god of football”…
Following the confirmation of Rafael Benitez as the new manager of European and Italian champions Inter Milan, several sources this week have predictably claimed that the Spaniard is set to raid cash-strapped former club Liverpool for several of their crown jewels. This phenomenon of players following managers is not something new; previously we have seen the likes of Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira follow former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho from Porto to Stamford Bridge. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Benitez has been handed a staggering €80m to spend this summer, fuelling rumours that he will be able to force Liverpool’s hand into selling several star players over the next few months.
As manager of the reigning Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia champions, Benitez is already in possession of an immensely talented squad at Inter. Should Benitez decide to acquire players from L4, who would he bring, and where would they fit in?
Javier Mascherano
Since having his head turned by interest from Barcelona last summer, the little Argentine anchorman has not been the same player at Anfield. On his day, the tigerish destroyer is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, blessed with tenacity, dogged determination and strength.
It is thought that ‘El Jefe’ heads Benitez’s list of summer transfer targets, and Mascherano is understood to be receptive to a move to Inter, having recently confessed that he is learning Italian whilst in South Africa with the Argentine national side. The Argentina captain, who blossomed under the tutelage of Benitez, is said to be keen to link up with the Spaniard, having said of Benitez that “his football is my football.”
Despite Benitez’s proclivity for the use of two holding midfield players, Mascherano is likely to face stiff competition for a first-team berth at Inter Milan. The central midfield position is one department that is well-stocked at the San Siro, with Esteban Cambiasso, Thiago Motta, Sulley Muntari, McDonald Mariga and Javier Zanetti all capable of operating in the holding role. However, the arrival of Mascherano would surely place question marks over the futures of one or two of the aforementioned players.
Glen Johnson
With Brazilian international Maicon set to follow Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid this summer, it appears that Rafael Benitez will be on the lookout for a new right-back. Perceptive tabloid types, including Spanish daily AS, have touted England international Glen Johnson as a potential replacement for the foraging Brazilian.
Maicon, regarded by many as the world’s finest full-back, has endeared himself to Inter Milan fans by way of his attacking displays down Inter’s right flank. Although not as accomplished as Maicon, Johnson has a similar penchant for forward play, and would be likely to command a first-team berth should Maicon depart for the Bernabeu.
However, unlike Mascherano, Johnson has not alluded to the fact that he is seeking a move away from Anfield.
Dirk Kuyt
As a long-time favourite of Rafael Benitez, recent speculation concerning the Liverpool future of Dirk Kuyt comes as no surprise. The converted right-winger, who is currently starring for the Netherlands at the World Cup, is rumoured to be one of Benitez’s targets this summer.
Kuyt’s agent Rob Jansen has added credence to such conjecture, having stated that “[Kuyt] has an excellent relationship with Benitez, but we are commenting only on an hypothesis, because there is nothing concrete. When and if an offer arrives, we’ll see. Dirk is happy at Liverpool and has a contract until 2012. Would he follow Benitez? Anything is possible, but, again, there is currently nothing.”
Notwithstanding the wealth of attacking options currently at Benitez’s disposal, Kuyt’s ability to operate as a right-winger, second striker and centre-forward would certainly vindicate any decision to move for the Dutchman. Given Benitez’s preference for ‘grafters’, Kuyt’s industry and hard-working nature would certainly be welcomed at Inter.
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Are the trio likely to leave, or is it simply the World’s media stirring the pot?
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Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes could play on for another year after denying that this season will definitely be his last.
Scholes, 35, penned a new one-year contract at Old Trafford earlier in the summer despite a previous assertion that the 2009/10 campaign could be his last.
The midfielder made 38 appearances in all competitions and was even approached by England coach Fabio Capello about the possibility of coming out of international retirement for the World Cup.
Scholes declined the invitation but has suggested that his lengthy United career – which now includes almost 650 first-team appearances – may not come to an end at the end of the forthcoming season.
"I do not know if it will be my last season," he said."I will just take every game as it comes.
"If I am feeling okay and doing the job that the manager wants me to do then we will see how things are at the end of next season.
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"Hopefully next season will be another good one for me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Former Brazil international Juliano Belletti has agreed terms with Fluminense in his homeland after being released by Chelsea at the end of last season.
The 34-year-old is set to sign a two-year deal with the Rio de Janeiro-based club if he passes a medical later this week.
Belletti moved to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona three years ago and went on to score five goals in 94 appearances for the west London outfit.
He started his career at Cruzeiro before moving on to Sao Paulo, Atletico Mineiro and then Villarreal.
Belletti spent one season with the Yellow Submarine before joining Barca in the summer of 2004 and went on to feature in 91 matches for the Catalan giants.
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He was one of three players to be released by Chelsea at the end of last season. Michael Ballack has already joined Bayer Leverkusen while Joe Cole is still without a club.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says that he cannot understand why there has been no interest in veteran striker Jason Roberts.
The 32-year-old will be allowed to leave Ewood Park if a suitable offer is forthcoming, but Allardyce is still waiting for serious interest in the experienced frontman.
He told reporters:"We both came to an agreement that a parting of the ways was the best way forward and I am very surprised that we haven't had the phone ringing.
"He has a very good track record in the Premier League and there are not many of his type about.
"When everyone is talking about finding a striker here is a frontman with vast experience and goalscoring ability yet no-one is picking the phone up.
"I am staggered about that one, but from our point of view we feel it is better if he moves on and we look elsewhere when he has gone.
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"But I wouldn't envisage anyone not coming in and bidding for him before the end of the transfer window, because there are not many players of his experience become available at this time of the year.
"He is a homegrown player as well and that is another factor coming into the equation now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
In light of Charles N’Zogbia’s apparent refusal to train at Wigan in a bid to get a desired move to Sunderland, we thought it fitting to hail those players who have gone out their way to engineer moves away from their clubs. See who makes our list and let us know if their are any glaring omissions.
Pascal Chimbonda A shrewd signing by Paul Jewell during his time at Wigan, the French full-back came to England for a bargain £500k in the summer of 2005 and was an instant hit with the Wigan fans. The Premier League seemed to suit Chimbonda and he was soon gaining admirers across the league, and as a result, Wigan offered him a new four-year contract just 6 months after signing him. All seemed OK until 45 minutes after Wigan’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal on the last game of the season, when Chimbonda handed his transfer request in at the pitch. It’s safe to say it didn’t go down too well with Jewell who was happy to let him see the remainder of his contract out in the reserves. Luckily for Chimbonda, Spurs matched the £4.5m asking price and the Frenchman got his desired move.
Dimitar Berbatov Two successful seasons at Tottenham were enough for Berbatov to decide that he wanted to move onto bigger things and greener pastures up the M6 and at Old Trafford. The Bulgarian striker made sure everyone was fully aware of his desired move as he missed the opening two games of Spurs’ 08/09 season against Sunderland and Chelsea. As soon as there was any speculation about Sir Alex Ferguson’s interest, Berbatov became ‘unsettled’ with his time a Spurs. In the last few hours of the transfer deadline, Berbatov managed to secure his move to Man Utd and has been a shadow of that player at Spurs ever since.
Nicolas Anelka Young, quick and with lethal finishing to boot, Nicolas Anelka was a sensation during his time at Arsenal. Managing to replace Ian Wright was some achievement at Highbury: having helped his side do the double during the 97/98 season, Anelka went on to score a hatful of goals and win the PFA Young Player of the Year the following season. But all was not rosy in Nico’s garden as he demanded a bigger salary and better performances from his team in the Champions League. Real Madrid were obviously interested in Anelka’s talent and the man himself managed to earn his now infamous title ‘Le Sulk’ as he lost any enthusiasm for the Arsenal cause. Still, the £22.5m profit Wenger made on Anelka was used to purchase one Thierry Henry…
Pierre Van Hooijdonk Or to give him his full name: Petrus Ferdinandus Johannes Van Hooijdonk. His time at Celtic started so well, and 57 goals in 68 games was an impressive return for the club, but an argument with the club’s president meant he had to make do with a place on the bench for the rest of his time at the club – not a good way of getting into the national team as the then coach Guus Hiddink reminded him. Van Hooijdonk managed to eventually secure a move to Nottingham Forest after a contract dispute where he claimed:
“£7,000 a week may be good for the homeless, but not for an international striker.”
Nice. He managed to go on strike at Forest too.
Robbie Savage Although a favourite amongst the fans at Birmingham, Robbie Savage was desperate to leave the club to play under Mark Hughes at Blackburn. Savage had played under Hughes with the Wales team and now he had moved to the Lancashire club, he was eager to continue their relationship. So much so, that he spoon fed Birmingham boss Steve Bruce lies about having personal problems, and needing to spend more time with his family despite Blackburn being further from his home than Birmingham was (all while holding an onion in his pocket to bring on his tears). He even spoke to a friend of his who worked at Sky, asking him to film him when he went into the training ground on the squad’s day off so it looked as though he had been banished to train on his own. The extreme lengths eventually worked and Savage got his move.
Continued on Page TWO
Tyrone Mears Another Paul Jewell escape act, this time with a bit more cloak and dagger. Derby’s Tyrone Mears had heard that Marseille were interested in taking him on loan, and the club made an offer, only for it to be rejected by Derby as ‘laughable’. This however didn’t stop Mears from meeting with officials from the French club. After one particular training session, Mears escaped through a bathroom window and crawled beneath Jewell’s office window so as not to be seen leaving the ground, so he could go to the meeting. Jewell was incensed as Mears got his move abroad. There were only seven appearances in all at Marseille for Mears before he was sold to Burnley a year later.
Darren Bent It was always on the cards that Darren Bent would be leaving Spurs last summer, but the striker made sure everyone knew where his desired destination was with his twitter account.
“Stop f*****g around, Levy. Do I wanna go Hull NO. Do I wanna go Stoke NO. Do I wanna go Sunderland YES”.
Frustrated during his time at White Hart Lane, particularly when Harry Redknapp brought back old boys Jermaine Defoe and Robbie Keane, not to mention with comparisons with Redknapp’s wife, Bent got his wish and moved to Wearside.
Robinho Unhappy with potentially being a makeweight in the deal that could have taken Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, the Brazilian forward made it clear that he was ready to move on if that was how the club felt about him. As Real Madrid kicked off the start of the 08/09 season against Deportivo La Coruna, Robinho called his own press conference to reiterate his desire to leave and organise a move away from Real. He claimed he wanted to go to Chelsea, but when Chelsea posted a picture of him holding their shirt it angered Real bosses and they sold him to Manchester City instead.
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Joleon Lescott From average Championship defender to England international during his time at Goodison Park, Joleon Lescott had enhanced his reputation enough for millionaires Manchester City to come knocking. David Moyes was adamant that Lescott was contracted to the club and going nowhere, but Lescott had other ideas. After Man City’s £14m bid was rejected, with Everton holding out for £30m, Lescott had four separate meetings with Moyes stating his desire to head to Eastlands. Eventually the player was ‘forced to go public’ with his request. His last appearance for the club was the 6-1 humilation against Arsenal before he made his move for £24m.
Cristiano Ronaldo After going one summer without his move to boyhood team Real Madrid, the Portugese forwards was not prepared for the same to happen again. Despite being paid a basic salary of £120k a week, Ronaldo claimed that he was a ‘modern day slave’ and that Man Utd were keeping him against his will. Two years of expressing his love for Real Madrid eventually earned him the world record transfer that only his ego could have hoped for.
Who have we missed? Let us know who else forced their way out of a club.
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It is now customary for Everton to make a slow start to a Premier League season. The Toffees are renowned for taking more points in the latter half of league campaigns. David Moyes’ side have two points from four games but a dramatic draw against Manchester United on Saturday may be the antidote they were after. The Scot acknowledged their lacklustre start but said before the match that, “we have a team capable of being in the top four.” It is a sentiment echoed by many but is it still achievable for a team who finished eighth last season? Slow starts aside, it may be their forward line which is precluding that place in Europe’s premier club competition. Everton scored three on Saturday but had to field an emergency striking partnership of Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini.
Scoring goals may not seem a problem after that performance but it is not a scenario fans would wish to see persist. Everton have many of the attributes required to challenge at the highest level. They lost just twice in the last 24 games of the previous season, demonstrating the experience of their defence. Their midfield boasts the versatility of the imposing Fellaini and the creative nous of Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta. Everton are blessed with a loyal, passionate fan base which can produce an intimidating atmosphere at Goodison Park and have a tactically adept manager who is there for a long haul. The forward line is the only area which requires consideration.
The former Manchester United striker, Louis Saha was the club’s top scorer last season with 13 league goals. He has featured this season but is now out for three weeks with a calf and knee complaint. The 32-year old revealed he has used leeches in an attempt to ease his chronic knee pains which have afflicted him throughout his career. Saha has undoubtedly impressed at Everton, scoring a late brace to flatten West Ham at Upton Park and netting the fastest goal in a cup final at Wembley during his first season. He was more prolific last season and one particular highlight was his two goals against Chelsea despite missing a penalty during that home win.
The dilemma concerning Saha is whether he will be available often enough to cement his goal-scoring form. Serious injury has been endemic at Goodison in recent years and has affected the performance of Nigerian striker Yakubu. The 27-year old was the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer but remains at the club, hoping to recapture the form which saw him score more than 20 league goals in the 2007/08 campaign. A ruptured Achilles halted his progress in late 2008 and he has not managed to reach the same dizzying heights since. He made a substitute appearance on Saturday but his manager said, “The Yak is fit but certainly couldn’t complete a game at the moment.” Moyes still harbours great belief in his ability and has challenged him to return to peak physical condition.
Everton acted promptly to secure the signing of free agent Jermaine Beckford this summer after the forward’s contract expired at Leeds United. He had been exceptional for the sleeping giants in League One, regularly scoring over 20 goals a season, hitting 31 last year. He sparkled too in their FA Cup run, scoring the winner at Old Trafford and a last gasp equaliser at White Hart Lane. He scored a penalty for his new club in their League Cup victory over Huddersfield Town but has yet to adapt to the PL. This is understandable for the player who described his summer move as a “big test.” But his pace which was on show against Aston Villa will be an asset to the club.
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However Moyes, who has grown tired of playing catch-up early in the season, may find his striking dilemma too time consuming. Elsewhere James Vaughan has joined Crystal Palace on loan while Victor Anichebe still has to win over the fans after refusing to play in their FA Cup replay against Liverpool. Moyes acted cunningly in the transfer market, swooping for Magaye Gueye from Strasbourg and Joao Silva from the Portuguese second tier. Both could prove to be ingenious buys but for now their ambitions rest on restoring the Yak to his striking potential.
The Football Association will consider Newcastle United's call for action to be taken against Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong.
The Magpies wrote a 'strongly-worded letter' calling for action after de Jong's tackle left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg following Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Eastlands.
Referee Martin Atkinson took no action against the combative Netherlands international at the time and Newcastle want the FA to take retrospective action.
"We will consider the contents of the letter," confirmed an FA spokesperson.
Ben Arfa is facing months on the sidelines after suffering fractures to his left tibia and fibula and the Magpies have called for strong action.
A club statement read:"Newcastle United FC have written a strongly-worded letter to the FA in relation to the tackle by Manchester City's Nigel de Jong on Hatem Ben Arfa in Sunday's Premier League fixture, which resulted in Ben Arfa sustaining a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg.
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"The club has asked the FA for the appropriate action to be taken against de Jong for the tackle which in the club's opinion was unnecessary and used excessive force.
"Newcastle United will also be writing to the appropriate body regarding the performance of the match officials, specifically the referee, in relation to a number of incidents during the game including the tackle on Ben Arfa."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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.
[youtube pgvmUbd568I]
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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.
[youtube F_8b1pd3Mas]
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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.
[youtube KeRlJJbtdHc]
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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.
[youtube z-FmSSA19FM]
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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.
[youtube nM1SPwPbcDc]
Continued on Page TWO
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.
[youtube _NuERX-5kc0]
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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.
[youtube gAn6x6hMqUo]
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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.
[youtube dBvhpPtXKR0]
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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.
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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.
[youtube n1Uj1ynL63E]
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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.
[youtube 3byTNRoxujo]
Any other horror challenges you feel should have made the list?
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