France and PSG midfielder, Blaise Matuidi has apologised for a bone crunching ankle challenge that left his opposite Lazio’s Ogenyi Onazi, a nigerian player having to be taken out on a stretcher and missing the rest of the tie.
Matuidi’s horrific tackle was only good enough for a yellow card from the Referee’s point of view; a decision that left most of the global viewing audience fuming as the French advanced to the quarter finals ahead of Nigeria, thanks to two late goals.
Matuidi admitted afterwards that his challenge was a poor one but said he had no intention to injure Onazi.
“I’m sorry,” he told the media after the game. “I’ve not gone in to hurt him; I’m disappointed because I’m not a dirty player.
“I went into the [Nigeria] dressing room afterwards to apologise”, he said.
France will face Germany who survived an Algerian scare in the day’s other fixture to progress; thanks to two late goals of their own and an Algerian consolation goal.