Lukas Podolski made one of the most outrageous tackles you'll ever see on Saturday as he featured for Polish side Gornik Zabrze in a so-called 'friendly' five-a-side competition.
The former Arsenal striker, 39, made an appearance at the Spodek Super Cup this weekend alongside a host of professional teams from Czechia and Slovakia's top-flights, as well as an All-Star Team.
It is said the tournament is a "guaranteed" spectacle as teams such as Banik Ostrava, Spartak Trnava and Wisłoka Dębica feature on an artificial pitch. "We provide the highest level of not only emotions, but also safety," the website states.
Advert
Well, one of the players who took part in the eight-team indoor competition was Podolski, who grabbed the headlines with a far-from-safe tackle on Wisłoka Dębica player Kubą Siedleckim.
As you can see from the footage below, the former Germany international produced what many believe to be a leg-breaking challenge on Siedleckim before throwing the ball towards his face.
Thankfully, Siedleckim was not seriously hurt during the tournament's third-place play-off match as Gornik Zabrze striker Podolski received a yellow card for his actions.
Here's how fans on social media reacted to the incident.
Advert
One said: "What a disgusting tackle, and then he moans at the player," and another wrote: "Lukas Podolski goes absolutely nuts in a friendly game and only gets a yellow card. He could easily broken his opponent's leg."
A third commented: "The referee is 2 metres away??"
A fourth said: "That’s horrendous," and a fifth added: "Such an embarrassing guy. That's really crazy, and not for the first time. Is it somehow normal for ex-professionals to be like that when they play in tournaments and amateur teams?"
After the game, Podolski apologised to the Wisłoka Dębic player before handing over his shirt.
Advert
He later wrote in a social media post: "There were emotions on the pitch, but after the match there is agreement. Sorry for the hard foul. All the best in the season."
Jack Kenmare