American Injured!

Stuart Holden, an American playing for Bolton Wanderers in England, was injured in a nasty tackle over the weekend. 

Manchester United downed Bolton 1-0 when Dimitar Berbatov notched the games only goal, late, in the 88^th minute.

Red Devils defender, Jonny Evans, makes
a nasty tackle on Bolton's, Stuart Holden

Holden was carried off the field in a stretcher and immediately taken to a local London hospital. 26 stitches were needed to repair the enormous, bloody gash on Holden’s knee.

 Manchester United defender, Jonny Evans, committed the brutal tackle and was ejected from the game with a red card. Evans did reach out to the American to offer an apology and wish him a healthy recovery.

Holden being carried by stretcher
following the challenge

Holden is now expected to miss up to six months, although initial X-rays show there are no breaks in his leg. Holden did suffer a broken leg last season in a friendly for the U.S national team.

Nigel de Jong, Dutch National team player, led the challenge responsible for Holden’s broken leg last season.

If you happen to remember Nigel de Jong’s martial arts style kick on Xabi Alonso from the World Cup then you’re all too familiar with the nasty challenges that occur throughout the game.

Soccer has no place for brutal tackles like those done by Jonny Evans and Nigel de Jong.

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal FC, head coach agrees there needs to be harsher punishments for nasty tackles.

“The English game becomes dangerous when players try to hurt each other. I like commitment in football — what I hate the most is a player who is not committed and jumps out of the tackle. But to have a committed game you need to know that the intention of players is right.” – Arsene Wenger, Manager, Arsenal FC.

The FA needs to investigate more into tackles that cause injury to other players. There is definitely reason to call for a further game suspension for Jonny Evans.

The injury will cost Holden two U.S national team matches, and the rest of the premier league season. The U.S national team hosts Argentina in New Jersey on Saturday, and Paraguay on Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.

U.S. national team head coach, Bob Bradley, was forced to make some changes to the roster for the two upcoming games. There were two others dropped from the roster along with Holden, Steve Cherundolo, and Zak Whitbread. Leeds United defender Erik Lichaj was one of the last additions to replace the injured players.

Holden must be reevaluated again on Sunday to hopefully determine the extent of the injury he received.


Here is a video of the tackle made by Jonny Evans on Stuart Holden: