• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Man City player Ben Thatcher’s tackle was so bad even the police got involved

Home> Football

Published 14:22 8 Apr 2023 GMT+1

Man City player Ben Thatcher’s tackle was so bad even the police got involved

Probably the most infamous yellow card in Premier League history

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

Back in 2006, Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Portsmouth was marred by one of the most horrendous tackles you will ever see.

During what was a drab 0-0 draw, the match should have been swiftly forgotten by both sets of fans.

However, the match will forever be etched in Premier League history after City man Ben Thatcher’s dismal tackle on Portsmouth’s Pedro Mendes in the second half.

Advert

The ball was originally headed away by the Pompey defence after a City corner.

As Mendes rushed over to the right back position in a bid to clear the ball, in came Thatcher with an extremely late challenge.

Thatcher came crashing into Mendes with his elbow, catching the Portsmouth man on the jaw and left him dropping to the floor head first.

Advert

At the time, referee Dermot Gallagher only gave Thatcher a yellow card for the offence.

On the back of the match, Greater Manchester Police received ‘a number of’ complaints from the public over Thatcher’s tackle.

As a result, the police were speaking with Mendes to see if he wanted to seek legal action.

Then Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp said: “The FA have to do something.

Advert

“It is there for all to see. I do not want to see anyone suspended but how could that possibly not be a red card? What do you have to do to get a red, kill someone?”

Whilst Thatcher made a public apology, he said: “Immediately after the game I tried to find out how Pedro was. I have written to him today apologising for what happened.”

City also decided to suspend Thatcher indefinitely and fined him two weeks' wages.

Advert

Manager at the time, Stuart Pearce said: “What happened on Wednesday was indefensible.

“Any form of discipline will be discussed at the board level, kept internal and we will move on from there. I can assure everybody that this has hit the player very hard. There is no bravado about him. He has gone home, turned on the TV and seen the challenge. The more you watch it, the worse it gets.

“Ben is distraught but hopefully he will learn from it. He is an aggressive player but every now and then the red mist appears and he steps over the mark. I ask my team to play hard but fair but when they go over the mark it's down to me to make sure I guide them in the right way.”

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@footbalIfights

Topics: Manchester City, Portsmouth, Premier League, Football

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Spanish influencer issues statement after being spotted with Lamine Yamal despite 12-year age gap

    Fati Vasquez, 29, has released a statement.

    Football
  • an hour ago

    Liverpool set to make 'significant offer' for Premier League star to replace £35m departure

    Liverpool are continuing their summer transfer business.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Fans have all come to same verdict after watching Lionel Messi play against Porto in Club World Cup

    Messi's Inter Miami are taking on Porto in their second group stage match.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Chelsea risk breaking strict FIFA rule in Club World Cup that would never happen in the Premier League

    Chelsea have competed in one group match so far at the Club World Cup.

    Football
  • Man City hit with huge punishment after accepting Premier League rule breaches
  • Footage of Rayan Cherki's first Man City training session emerges and it's got fans talking
  • Fresh Man City 115 charges points deduction claim made as 'rumour' circulates over final verdict
  • Scott Carson's Man City trophy haul labelled 'embarrassing or genius' after shocking statistic revealed