Horrible scenes in park footy as former A-League star breaks rival’s leg with malicious challenge as his team is whipped 8-0
- Ex-Mariner star Jordan Smylie kicked out for horror challenge
- Socceroos legend Mark Bosnich called the challenge disgusting
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Football fans are furious after a horror tackle during a Victorian NPL football match by a former A-League star broke an opponent’s leg.
The match was between high-flying Avondale FC and the Dandenong Thunder, with Avondale ultimately beating their opponents 8-0.
The visitors had taken the lead in the first half when former Mariners player Jordan Smylie slipped in with a wicked challenge on Kristian Trajceski.
Trajceski remained lying on the turf, clutching his injured leg, as his teammates rushed to confront Smylie.
Former Mariners player Jordan Smylie (pictured playing for Central Coast) launched himself with a nasty challenge on Kristian Trajceski
The referee had no choice but to show the 24-year-old a red card, with the ferocity of the tackle undeniably dangerous.
Football pundits were dismayed by the challenge and took to social media.
Football journalist Sacha Pisani posted on Trajceski was taken straight to hospital – a reported broken leg.
Manchester United and Premier League champion Mark Bosnich was quick to respond, posting: “Disgusting… these tackles and those who make them have no place anywhere in football… the player who carried out this should be banned for as long as Trajceski is out of action.” .
Other soccer fans were outraged by the behavior and echoed Bosnich’s remarks.
“Absolutely no place for that in any sport. I hope Trajceski recovers as quickly and as well as possible,” one of them replied.
“If you are so frustrated with your team’s performance that you decide to make a tackle like this then you shouldn’t be playing,” replied another.
Last month, fan violence forced the abandonment of a match between the Oakleigh Cannons and Dandenong Thunder.
Mark Bosnich was shocked by the challenge and said he had no place in the sport.
Footage circulated on social media at the time showed a fan knocked unconscious in disturbing scenes after fans spilled onto the pitch at Jack Edwards Reserves in Oakleigh, Victoria.
The security services were unable to contain the situation and the police were called to defuse the violence. Fans were eventually escorted off the field long after the match had stopped.
Around 500 fans were at the match and some reportedly threw objects at police and others nearby.
