Days of horrendous tackles, S01E02

Only four days ago, we wrote about a brutal kung-fu tackle that saw Esperance Tunis striker Hamdou Elhouni being pounded by his fellow countryman, Al-Ittihad keeper Mouad Ellafi. Sure, Ellafi was sent off instantly, but this kind of action deserves much more than a red card.

Attempted murder in the CAF Champions League as keeper brutally knocks out striker

And if you think African soil is the only place to see such awful scenes, you're sincerely wrong.

Last night, Jens Hofer of Liechtenstein did almost the same thing to a much-praised Bayern Munich and German midfielder Leon Goretzka in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers tie. The game in Wolfsburg was only a few minutes underway when Hofer jumped aggressively for the ball in the Liechtenstein area.

(2.10) GABON (3.10) LIBYA (3.90)

And instead of reaching it with his head, Hofer engaged directly into Goretzka's chest with his left foot. A female referee had nothing left to do but to send him off rightfully indeed.

Hofer, however, reacted in a fair-play manner after he noticed how (unintentionally) brutal he was and offered Goretzka help.