Is this the worst Premier League foul ever?

Some fouls leave you wincing. Some are debatable. And some leave players with lasting damage. The Premier League is widely regarded as the most competitive league in the world, so naturally, there have been some hefty challenges. But which is the worst foul committed in the Premier League?

Seb Stafford-Bloor writes. Philippe Fenner.

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[kunalgub]

Important to note, maybe that these aren't the worst injuries caused by a player on another. That would be David Busst, who in 1996 while fighting for a corner, collided with Denis Irwin and Brian Mclair. Extensive compound fractures to both the tibia and fibula of his right leg, severing almost all the tendons in his leg and resulting in 22 operations, he almost had his leg amputated. They had to clean the blood of the pitch before continuing....

[Red__Law]

Can't believe Ashley Williams kicking the ball at Robin van Persie didn't even make the list! Worst ever PL foul imo, he could've been killed.

[NavF]

That Eduardo injury honestly might have changed history for Arsenal. Other fans, especially newer ones, might laugh at that when checking his statistics, but he was incredible. He was adapting very quickly as from December in a team that everyone loved to watch (there's a superb 07/08 comp on YT). The gruesome injury scarred that young team - Fabregas reportedly puked from seeing Eduardo's bones popping out.

Arsenal was on course for at least one trophy, and maybe two or more. Who knows. Yes, ONE injury shouldn't shatter a team but again, they were all very young and became more scared on the pitch. In the next 2-3 weeks, Arsenal blew their chances for all 3 major trophies...

[SamGamll]

I'm surprised Callum McManaman's horror tackle on Haidara didn't make the list as he somehow escaped any form of punishment yet practically ruined Haidara's career

[gentleken]

Yes, let's be clear there is nothing more heartening than being booed for have your leg shattered by one of your own team's players. Stay classy Stoke.

[moluther]

How many Arsenal players had their legs broken? "To play Arsenal you have to kick Arsenal"

[GabrielPowerful]

Yes! The second I saw the headline I immediately thought "Thatcher vs Mendes". I couldn't believe that challenge when I saw it, nor could I believe the ref giving a yellow, or Thatcher then berating both Johnson and the ref. What a tosser

[powerplant.]

Whenever I started an Ipswich save on FM10, I would immediately release Ben Thatcher because of that incident. I was livid that we signed him irl.

[lukexit]

Abu Diaby never played a full season again after Dan Smith's tackle. Diaby had the potential to be something like Yaya Toure's level in my opinion. This tackle also occurred weeks before Arsenal's only appearance in a Champions league final

[gy]

I had watched both those arsenal games live on TV and to this day I can recall the shock horror, during and after the game. the impact on both those arsenal players were massive and the team also didn't recover!! you know it's not good when they don't show the replay. severe retrospective punishment for such bad tackles is long over due!!! some idiots don't have the talent or brain for the beautiful game and they just resort to the so called 'physicality'. it's pathetic!!!

[timdurgan]

I remember that Thatcher tackle at the time. He genuinely could have killed Mendes. Disgraceful foul.

[Mclarenboy]

The Ben Thatcher foul sticks in my mind. I remember watching it live on TV, and in my young, naive mind I legitimately thought I saw Pedro Mendes die. It was that horrific of not just a foul, but an assault.

[ControlDesigns]

Neil Lennon headbutting Alan Shearer's foot. Disgraceful

[wmyates]

I was there for the Martin Taylor one and in real time we weren’t entirely sure what had happened because it was obviously late but didn’t contain much power, it was only when we saw replays at home that we understood what had happened. It was a bad tackle and the result of Martin Taylor being maybe the slowest footballer I’ve ever seen play for my team.

[ashburn]

The Eduardo one definitely ranks up there high. A young Fabregas saw the horror in front of him accumulating from years of rough plays disregarded on Wenger's team. You get the Aaron Ramsdale and Abou Diaby injury as well. These types of career ending injuries should be very rare, maybe happens once to a team in 20 years' worth of probability. Against Wenger's team, the aggression was encouraged if you get to hear the pundits commenting back then.

[andrewjolly]

I mean we were all waiting for Ben Thatcher right.

[sonder]

I never saw the Aaron Ramsey injury until now. I nearly passed out from watching that video because to me it's unbearable to watch and understand the severity of the injury... I am still in shock of how terrible that looked

[btb]

What comes to mind for me is Abou Diaby’s severe ankle fracture after a disgusting tackle from Sunderland defender Dan Smith.

Arsenal were 3 - 0 up with a minute to go, and for Smith to go sliding in studs up was nothing but malicious.

Smith destroyed Diaby’s career and may have cost Arsenal a Champions League title.

[andyarmstrong]

It's got to be the animal Mings on Nelson Oliveira and later on ibrahimovich he should never have been allowed to play football at any level ever again. Check it out for the full horror!

[adamhafiddin]

If we talk outside PL, there's one foul that comes to my mind. Axel Witsel stomping Wacilewski. Its an absolute horror footage and should've been watched with caution.