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.

Rugby star suffers gruesome hand injury during match (GRAPHIC PHOTO)

Nobody ever accused rugby players of being soft, but after Chev Walker suffered a nasty gash to his hand during a match Sunday, The Bradford Bulls star might be labeled tender — tender as in a piece of steak.

That's because Walker's hand looked like a $50 slab of raw filet mignon after posting the gruesome image of the prime cut on his official Twitter account.

For the faint of heart — look away. (GRAPHIC PHOTO)

Well after doing this in the game on Sunday, I thought I was gonna be having an op but just been told doesn't need it pic.twitter.com/jri4BBSSJL
— chev walker (@chevwalker) July 22, 2014

Along with the frightening photo, Walker posted the message: "Well after doing this in the game on Sunday, I thought I was gonna be having an op but just been told doesn't need it."

Posted like a true rugby player.

Walker sustained the bloody injury while attempting a tap tackle in the Bulls' 52-26 Super League match against the Huddersfield Giants.

He was stitched up and, like he said, no operation was necessary.

Rugby star recovering after biting off his own tongue (PHOTO)

Rugby players have a reputation for bloodying up the field, but even Lucas Walshaw would the first to admit the gory injury he suffered on Sunday was a little too much.

And he'll say it with a lisp.

That's because the Wakefield forward bit off a chunk of his tongue in the opening minutes of the Rams’ Kingstone Press Championship match at Sheffield Eagles.

Afterwards, Walshaw got one of his teammates to take a photo.

The 21-year-old second rower, who is playing on loan to Dewsbury, attempted to scrum on despite the blood and the tip of his tongue hanging off.

"He got a head shot right at the start of the game, and the end bit of his tongue got bit off and was hanging down," said Glenn Morrison, the Dewsbury coach. "He played on for another five or 10 minutes but it wouldn't stop bleeding so we had to get him off, and as soon as the doctor took a look at it that was it. 

"It wasn’t pretty," said Morrison. "They couldn’t stop the bleeding so they got him off and then saw the end of his tongue hanging off. 

"He toughed it out and spent the night in hospital where they re-attached it with about a dozen stitches," added Morrison. "Tongues usually heal pretty quickly so he should only be out for two or three weeks."

Walshaw seemed more concerned about his food intake.

"I'll be right for the weekend," he said. "They won't let me eat anything for the moment because I got my front teeth knocked back as well, so I'm just on protein shakes. I'm looking forward to a good Mexican but I might put the chillies to one side."

Indonesian soccer player banned for life after sucker-punching referee

Indonesian soccer player Pieter Rumaropen was banned for life after punching a referee in the face during a top Super League match over the weekend.

It was the first life ban for a player in the country since 2008, and adds to the woeful state of football in Southeast Asia's biggest nation as it tries to recover from a crisis which saw rival federations running separate leagues.

Rumaropen's Persiwa Wamena were tied 1-1 with Pelita Bandung Raya on Sunday when referee Muhaimin awarded a penalty to Pelita with eight minutes left on the clock.

Video replays of the incident showed Rumaropen running up behind Muhaimin and landing a left-handed sucker punch to the referee's face.  The bloodied ref had to be admitted to a hospital due to excessive bleeding from his nose.

The match was held up for 15 minutes before a replacement official took over and gave Rumaropen a red card.

"This was a terrible act that we cannot tolerate," said Hinca Panjaitan, head of the disciplinary committee of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), as he announced the ban after a meeting in Jakarta.

"It has tarnished the image of Indonesian football in the international community, I hope this punishment will repair that."

The life ban, which comes into effect today, was the first for a player in Indonesia since 2008.  Five years ago, four players received the same punishment after kicking a referee and pulling down his shorts.

Persiwa, currently seventh in the 18-team league, lost 2-1 after their opponents converted the penalty.

Even it doesn't look like Pelita deserved the penalty, Rumaropen's cheap shot was even more foul. He's lucky he wasn't caned.