Soccer club takes legal action against player for career-ending tackle on pitch (VIDEO)

A German Super League soccer club has started legal proceedings against an opposing player after a brutal knee-high tackle on the pitch injured their star midfielder and reportedly ended his career.

FC Zurich's Gilles Yapi-Yapo suffered the injuries as a result of what is being called "the worst tackle ever" and his club has begun legal action against FC Aarau's Sandro Wieser.

On Wednesday, the 32-year-old Yapi-Yapo said the combination of injures will likely force him to retire.

The former Ivory Coast international sustained the injuries during Zurich's 1-0 Super League win over FC Aarau when Wieser charged in and planted his cleats on Yapi-Yapo's right knee.

The 21-year-old Wieser was shown a straight red card for the shocking challenge and Yapi-Yapo was carried from the pitch on a stretcher after just 19 minutes.

Yapi-Yapo suffered torn anterior and interior cruciate ligaments, serious cartilage damage, a meniscus tear, a torn kneecap and deep bruising in his thigh.

On Monday, Zurich president Ancillo Canepa launched legal proceedings against Wieser for intentionally causing injury to his player.

But Wieser, who is a former team-mate of Yapi-Yapo after the pair played together at FC Basle, denied that he had deliberately hurt the 32-year-old.

"I totally regret what happened," Wieser wrote on his Facebook page. "There was absolutely no intent on my part.

"I've had a lot of experience with injury and I don't wish that on anyone."

Probably of little solace to Yapi-Yapo.