He almost broke Hakimi's leg, and UEFA reduced his punishment?!

A month ago, the entire football world was disgusted after the derby clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich. Even though the rivals played a fantastic game in which the Bavarians triumphed 2-1, one moment from the first-half added time overshadowed the whole beauty of the derby.

Luis Diaz horrendously tackled Achraf Hakimi, handing him a severe ankle injury. The Colombian was deservedly sent off, while the Moroccan barely left the pitch in tears.

Diaz receives a red card following his terrible tackle on Hakimi (©Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Consequently, Diaz was suspended for three matches, as Hakimi started doing his best to recover and be able to lead his national team in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by his country.

And while the defender is still struggling with his recovery and his AFCON appearance is still under a huge question mark, shocking news came from Germany: Diaz's punishment was reduced from three games to two?! After nearly breaking the man's leg!

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Bayern did file an appeal to UEFA following the announcement of the sanction, though even they were aware the chances of an eventual reduction were minimal.

Kicker reports that the Bavarians' CEO, Jan-Christian Dreesen, admitted that "you only succeed with that in rare cases," while the club's sporting director, Max Eberl, was as pessimistic as it gets.

"I'm not so naive as to say it will only be one game. If we got one less game, that would be fantastic," he said.

And that's precisely what Bayern got. Diaz's suspension was reduced, and he'll be available for the Bavarians' January duel against the Belgian Royale Union St. Gilloise. In the meantime, he'll miss the match against Sporting Lisbon, after already sitting out the defeat to Arsenal in London.

And while the Colombian is preparing for Bayern's Bundesliga clash against Stuttgart today (17.30), UEFA officials should ask themselves if this is really a just decision. We hardly think so.

BUNDESLIGA ROUND 13

Friday

Mainz - M'gladbach 0-1 (0-0)

/Da Costa 58 (og)/

Saturday

17.30: (3.70) Augsburg (4.05) Leverkusen (1.95)

17.30: (4.20) Heidenheim (3.60) Freiburg (1.95)

17.30: (2.00) Koln (3.75) St.Pauli (3.80)

17.30: (5.70) Stuttgart (5.10) Bayern (1.48)

17.30: (2.20) Wolfsburg (3.50) Union Berlin (3.50)

20.30: (1.75) RB Leipzig (4.30) Eintr.Frankfurt (4.45)

Sunday

17.30: (2.30) Hamburger (3.60) Werder (3.15)

19.30: (1.65) Dortmund (4.00) Hoffenheim (5.20)

***odds are subject to change***