PARIS — Newcastle defender Massadio Haidara feared his career had been “ruined” by Callum McManaman’s knee-high tackle and is angry that the English Football Association took no action against the Wigan midfielder.
McManaman escaped punishment for his violent challenge on Haidara in the Premier League last Sunday after the FA said this week its rules don’t allow retroactive action in this case. McManaman was not sent off.
Much to Haidara’s disbelief and relief, scans have showed he suffered no broken bones or ligament damage.
“It’s hard to swallow. I don’t understand. He could have ruined my career and my life, and he will play again before I do,” Haidara said on Thursday in an interview with French daily Le Parisien. “It’s ridiculous. Players must be protected. This can no longer be tolerated in football.”
Haidara was carried off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital with an injury to his left knee after McManaman’s ugly challenge in the first half. The challenge didn’t even draw a free kick, as referee Mark Halsey appeared to have his view of the incident blocked by a player.
“I felt his studs on my leg, an unbearable pain,” Haidara said. “I was in such pain that I could no longer think. I was in shock. Then, you start thinking about everything. I thought that maybe I would never play football again.”
That challenge came only weeks after Saint-Etienne midfielder Jeremy Clement’s ankle was snapped in two after an equally dangerous lunge by Nice midfielder Valentin Eysseric, who was banned until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old Haidara, who joined Newcastle from Nancy in January, watched footage of McManaman’s challenge only hours later.
“Yes, the same evening. I had never seen such a tackle in my life and then the tackle happens to me,” Haidara said. “When I think about it, I get a chill down my spine.
“The knee ligaments haven’t been affected, I’m very relieved. I was very scared when it happened. I thought that McManaman had broken my leg in two or killed my knee. I couldn’t bend my leg, it was horrible.”
The incident sparked anger in the Newcastle dugout, with assistant manager John Carver having to be restrained as he tried to confront McManaman at halftime. The FA’s decision on McManaman was also met with fury by Newcastle.
“On the spur of the moment I was very angry with (McManaman). Now that I know I’ve escaped serious injury I’ve taken a step back and I no longer hold it against him,” Haidara said. “I just hope that it serves as a lesson for him and that he’ll be able to control himself next time.”
Haidara was willing to talk with McManaman.
“I’ve been told he wants to speak to me, for the time being it hasn’t happened yet,” Haidara said. “There is a language barrier but I think we will try and see each other with an interpreter.”