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You are here: Home News Belgian News Football: Belgians in uproar over ankle-crunching tackle

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01/09/2009Football: Belgians in uproar over ankle-crunching tackle

Standard Liege player Axel Witsel became highly unpopular with football fans on Sunday after putting Anderlecht's Marcin Wasilewski in hospital with a double ankle fracture.

Wasilewski, 29, underwent an operation after the 1-1 league draw on Sunday to reduce the fracture but, with an injury similar to the horrific one suffered by Arsenal's Eduardo in February 2008, he is expected to go under the knife again next week.

His club Anderlecht said the defender could be out for a year, meaning he will miss the World Cup finals if Poland qualifies. 

Meanwhile, Witsel has been slated by the Belgian press, which is believed to be partly because he is considered a great hope for the future having won the Golden Boot trophy for the best player in the Belgian championship in 2008.

Flemish-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws was one of several that put the story on their front pages, calling Witsel's challenge an "absolute disgrace", while French language paper Le Soir called Witsel's gesture a "moment of madness".

Witsel quickly apologised for the horror tackle but the 20 year old Belgian international was shunned by some of his teammates and the club's sponsor was so shocked it released a statement hitting out at the player.

Witsel will appear at a disciplinary hearing at the Belgian football federation (URBSFA) on Tuesday and is expected to be handed a lengthy ban.

AFP/Expatica


1 reaction to this article

Tim Page posted: 2009-09-01 11:14:20

Surely there is some mistake here? Didn't Wisel play for Standard??

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1 reaction to this article

Tim Page posted: 2009-09-01 11:14:20

Surely there is some mistake here? Didn't Wisel play for Standard??

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