Fans demand footballer given ‘year long ban’ for horror tackle that ‘could have ended opponent’s career’

FANS have been calling for an unprecedented ban after witnessing a horror tackle during the Copa Libertadores.

In a clash between Paraguayan outfit Cerro Porteno and Chilean club Colo-Colo, one player was given his marching orders after landing a brutal tackle on his opponent.

xCerro Porteno full-back Alan Benitez chased after Colo-Colo defender Maximiliano Falcon[/caption]

xBenitez lost his patience and lashed out on Falcon[/caption]

xThe Cerro Porteno star slammed his foot down on Falcon’s heel[/caption]

xThe horror challenge left his opponent’s leg bent underneath his studs[/caption]

xFalcon appeared to be in agony after the tackle[/caption]

Cerro Porteno full-back Alan Benitez was chasing Colo-Colo defender Maximiliano Falcon when he appeared to lose patience with the Uraguayan’s ability to evade his pressure.

Benitez, who was behind Falcon at the time, stamped down on the back of the 27-year-old’s leg with his studs.

The forceful stamp scraped all the way down Falcon’s calf and heel leaving the star writhing in pain on the floor.

It looked as though Benitez had made no real attempt to win the ball and was instead aiming to only make contact with Falcon.

The referee had a great view of the foul and immediately reached into his pocket to send Benitez off in the 99th minute of the clash.

But fans watching on from home think that a dismissal isn’t enough of a punishment and were calling for Benitez to be reprimanded further.

On social media one wrote: “Brutal. Needs to be banned.”

While another added: “That needs to be a year long ban.”

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A third commented: “Why would he do that?!! He could literally end his career with that! I hope he gets pulled up on. That’s so violent.”

And a fourth posted: “10-20 game ban for that in my opinion.”

Benitez may have been taking out his frustrations at the result with the game ticking towards its conclusion when he made the foul.

The score ended 1-1, meaning that a draw saw Colo-Colo advance to the knockout rounds of the competition.

While Benitez’s Cerro Porteno side were knocked out and resigned to participation in the Copa Sudamericana – essentially the Europa League of South American football.

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