Tiago Santos left the Pierre-Mauroy on a stretcher on Saturday night, turning Lille’s 1-0 win over Le Havre into an anxious evening for the home side. The Portuguese right-back has suffered a right-knee injury that the club fears could be serious, while frustration is growing internally over the lack of punishment for Amir Richardson.
Incident leaves Lille awaiting medical clarity
- In the 17th minute, Tanguy Nianzou played an uncertain pass towards Santos.
- The Lille defender stretched his right leg in an attempt to bring the ball under control.
- Santos’s foot remained fixed in the turf as Le Havre midfielder Richardson made contact with him.
- The full-back injured his right knee and was later carried from the stadium on a stretcher.
- Lille went on to win the Ligue 1 match 1-0, but concern over Santos quickly overshadowed the result.
Detailed examinations have not yet been possible because the knee remains badly swollen. Lille are nevertheless concerned that the 23-year-old could be facing a major absence.
Lille question decision not to punish Richardson
Davide Ancelotti did not criticise referee Bastien Dechepy after the match, maintaining his usual restraint on officiating. Elsewhere within the Lille camp, however, there is incomprehension over Richardson receiving no sanction following the challenge.
The club’s view is that the Le Havre player came from behind with an uncontrolled tackle which endangered Santos’s physical safety. The anger centres on the apparent implication that the defender somehow sustained the injury without any punishable action from an opponent.
The sequence itself was confused, with Santos attempting to reach Nianzou’s loose pass before Richardson collided with him. Lille must now wait for the swelling to ease before the extent of the damage can be established.
