Lille are considering legal action after defender Tiago Santos suffered a serious knee injury in a tackle by Le Havre midfielder Amir Richardson during Saturday’s Ligue 1 match. Santos, 24, was carried off on a stretcher in the first half after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament and suffering a meniscal tear in his right knee. The incident was given as a foul, but Richardson was not shown a yellow or red card. Lille went on to win the match 1-0.
Lille said they have asked the league to refer the incident to its disciplinary panel, arguing that it should have been a red card because the tackle was made “from behind, uncontrolled and in a dangerous manner.” In a club statement, Lille added: “Beyond the injury itself, the circumstances in which it occurred and the lack of sanction raise serious questions for the club.”
The club said it has referred the matter to the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League to obtain an examination of how the refereeing team and video assistance handled the action. Lille also said they are studying possible remedies and reserve the right to take any legal action to obtain compensation for damages. Santos will be unable to play for “several months,” the club said. The defender had started every match for Lille in Ligue 1 this season.
Le Havre responded by saying that the club and Richardson expressed their support for Santos in his recovery, but they backed the decisions of the match referee and the video assistant referee. Le Havre also questioned Lille’s move to “punish its player after the fact, since such a decision would fall outside the current regulations.” The club added: “HAC respects all fellow Ligue 1 clubs and expects the same respect in return.”
The LFP, which runs the French professional leagues, has been contacted for comment. Lille are second in Ligue 1 and face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.