Footballer facing calls for life ban after off-the-ball attack on rival that leaves his own team-mate stunned

A SPANISH amateur football player is facing calls for a life ban after this reckless kick on a rival defender during a match.

The striker, identified locally as Marc Marquez, is said to have escaped punishment during the game because the ref didn’t see him lash out at his opponent.

Marc Marquez is facing calls for a life ban after kicking a rival defender

But his violent assault, in which he stamped on his victim’s left knee with the studs on his right boot and left him writhing in agony on the ground, was filmed and started going viral yesterday afternoon.

The horror incident happened at the start of the second half of a Catalan fourth division weekend match between Fornells and Bescano in the north-east province of Girona near Spain’s border with France.

Bescano forward Marquez, thinking no-one was looking while play was stopped, idled up to his home team opponent before unleashing his shock and unexpected Bruce Lee-style kick.

Footage showed the Fornells goalie racing up to the spot where the assault had occurred and waving his arms in the air to get the attention of the referee.

It was not clear what happened in the immediate aftermath of the attack.

The match was suspended later on in the second half because of an unrelated incident which led to an ambulance having to be called after another player was hurt.

Pável Fernández, a referring analyst for a sports channel and radio station, slammed the reckless action as the Catalan Football Federation faced calls last night to ban the aggressor for life from the sport.

As well as being punished by sports authorities, the footballer who carried out the attack could face criminal prosecution.

His opponent was left rolling around in agony after the incident

Football fan Jose Maria Val reacted by saying: “This man can never play football again.”

Another commented: “Even one of his own teammates (number two) raises his hands to his head.”

Jordi Guile wrote on social media: “If something like this happened when I was a lad playing football the police would have ended up going onto the pitch.”

Another football fan added: “They should ban him from football for life. This is something that could be reported to police.”

There has not yet been any official comment from the Catalan Football Federation or either of the two clubs involved.

In September footage from a Honduran top-flight game between Marathon and Olimpia went viral following a two-footed lunge that left two opponents injured.

Two players were left rolling in agony after Marathon star Andre Orellana’s horror tackle took them both out at the same time.

The 21-year-old was red-carded after the incident, which happened while he was trying to win a loose ball and not when the ball was nowhere near the player as occurred in the weekend incident in Girona.