Lille’s 1-0 victory over Le Havre has been overshadowed by another cruel knee injury for Tiago Santos, with the Portuguese full-back facing a long absence and likely missing the remainder of the Ligue 1 campaign.
Key takeaways
- Tiago Santos has suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
- The 24-year-old was injured in a challenge involving Le Havre midfielder Amir Richardson during Saturday’s match.
- Lille are considering approaches to the French Football Federation, the LFP and potentially the courts over the damage suffered.
- Neither referee Bastien Dechepy nor the VAR team issued Richardson with a card or a dismissal.
- Le Havre, bottom of Ligue 1 and still without a league win, have challenged Lille’s demand for retrospective action.
A second serious knee setback for Santos
Santos was hurt in the sixth-round meeting at Lille, where the home side secured a narrow 1-0 result. The defender’s right knee was seriously damaged after a poorly controlled tackle by Richardson, leaving Lille without one of their key wide defenders for months.
Medical examinations confirmed a full ACL tear. Santos will undergo surgery with Bertrand Sonnery Cottet, the specialist who also treated him two years ago, before beginning a lengthy rehabilitation programme.
The injury is particularly painful given the player’s recent history. Santos had already sustained a major injury to his left knee in October 2024, and this new setback comes after his return to the Lille side.
Lille have backed their player publicly and said they intend to seek compensation for the harm caused. The club are prepared to contact the FFF and Ligue de Football Professionnel, while also leaving open the prospect of legal proceedings.
Le Havre defend Richardson and question Lille’s move
Le Havre and Richardson offered their support to Santos, wishing him a swift recovery. The Fiorentina loanee also sent a personal message on social media, telling the Lille player: “Get well soon, my brother.”
However, the Normandy club firmly rejected the suggestion that Richardson should now face disciplinary punishment. Le Havre pointed out that Dechepy and the video officials did not believe the incident warranted either a booking or a red card during the game.
The club said it understood the emotion surrounding Santos’s condition, but questioned Lille’s attempt to pursue a sanction after the final whistle. Le Havre argued that such a measure would not fit within the applicable regulations when the match officials had taken no action at the time.
Still rooted to the foot of the table and awaiting their first league victory of the season, Le Havre called for mutual respect among Ligue 1 clubs as the dispute over the challenge continues.
