SOME SHOCKING INJURIES IN FOOTBALL
Footballers getting injured during play is common. But some really grave ones have haunted us over the years
PATRICK BATTISTON
France v West Germany, World Cup semifinal JULY 8, 1982 West German goalkeeper Harald “Toni” Schumacher had a reputation of being a hot head. In the feisty semifinal encounter in Seville, Frenchman Battiston was rushing onto a glorious Michel Platini through ball that split the German defence. The goalkeeper rushed out to challenge for the ball but seemed more intent on attacking his opponent. Schumacher went flying into Battiston and struck the Frenchman with his shoulder. Battiston suffered damaged vertebrae, a broken jaw, lost four teeth and went into a coma. Schumacher was not punished for the incident.
PETR CECH
France Reading v Chelsea, Premier League match OCTOBER 14, 2006 Cech slid close to the floor to collect a loose ball and was hit on the head by Stephen Hunt’s leg. Scans revealed he suffered a depressed fracture. He had emergency surgery with metal plates installed in the skull.
JOHN TERRY
Chelsea v Arsenal, League Cup final FEBRUARY 25, 2007 Trying to get himself on a loose ball resulting from a second-half corner, Terry dove in head first and was kicked in the face by the boot of Arsenal’s Abou Diaby. The Englishman immediately lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR AND CHRIS SMALLING
England v Holland, friendly MARCH 1, 2012 In a friendly match at Wembley ahead of Euro 2012, Huntelaar and Smalling violently clashed heads attempting to challenge for an aerial ball in the England box. Huntelaar managed to get to it first and scored a powerful header before being knocked out in the collision with Smalling. The Dutchman came off worse in the impact, seen dazed on the turf with a mouthful of grass before both players were taken to the hospital. Days later, Huntelaar said, “When I cough I feel my brain is still shaking”. ‘
CHRISTOPH KRAME
Germany v Argentina, World Cup final JULY 13, 2014 Kramer was accidentally struck in the face by the shoulder of Argentina defender Ezequiel Garay and was temporarily disoriented. Ten minutes after the collision, he fell to the turf, dazed from a concussion which forced him off the field.
MARTIN BERKOVEC
FC Slovacko v Bohemians 1905 Prague, Czech First League FEBRUARY 27, 2017 Francis Kone and Daniel Krch were chasing down a loose ball which Martin Berkovec also rushed out for. The goalkeeper was first to the ball but collided with Krch. Kone put his fingers in Berkovec’s mouth to stop him swallowing his tongue.