French Ligue 1 club LOSC Lille has announced that it is exploring formal legal action against Le Havre midfielder Amir Richardson after a heavy tackle resulted in a career-threatening Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and meniscus tear for 24-year-old defender Tiago Santos.
The incident occurred during the first half of Lille's 1-0 victory over Le Havre, when Richardson launched what Lille officially described as an "uncontrolled and reckless" challenge. Santos had to be stretchered off the pitch in clear agony. Although the match referee awarded a foul, no card was shown to Richardson—a decision Lille strongly contends should have been a red card offense. In response, Lille has petitioned Ligue 1's governing body, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), requesting an immediate referral to the disciplinary committee and a full review of the refereeing video review protocol.
In an unprecedented move for French football, Lille stated that it reserves the right to seek financial compensation for club damages and will fully back Santos should he choose to pursue personal legal recourse. This marks the second major ACL setback for the Portuguese right-back, who previously suffered a left ACL tear in 2024. Neither the French Football Federation (FFF) nor the LFP have issued a public comment regarding the potential litigation.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Sports Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
