In a shocking turn of events during the Indian Super League (ISL) season opener, Punjab FC’s star striker, Luka Majcen, suffered a severe injury that has put his season in jeopardy. Majcen, a Slovenian international, was sidelined with two jaw fractures following a contentious tackle by Kerala Blasters’ Rahul KP during their match on September 15, 2024. The incident has not only left Majcen facing surgery and a recovery period of 6-8 weeks but also sparked a broader discussion on foul play in football.
Punjab FC, visibly shaken by the incident, has described the tackle as an “unwanted aggressive foul” through their football director, Nikolaos Topoliatis. The club has vehemently expressed its stance against such aggressive tactics on the pitch. In light of the referee’s decision to merely caution Rahul KP with a yellow card, Punjab FC has escalated the matter by filing an official complaint with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the ISL. The complaint questions the leniency of the punishment given the severity of the injury, prompting a review from the ISL’s competitions committee and the AIFF’s disciplinary committee.
The incident has cast a shadow over Punjab FC’s campaign, especially as they gear up for their next fixture against Odisha FC on September 20, 2024, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The team will now have to strategize without their key player who had earlier in the game demonstrated his prowess by scoring and assisting.
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