Witsel banned for leg-breaking tackle
Reuters - Tuesday 01 September 2009, 15:22
BRUSSELS - Standard Liege midfielder Axel
Witsel has been suspended until November 23 for a foul that resulted
in Anderlecht's Polish defender Marcin Wasilewski suffering a
double fracture of his right leg on Sunday.
Witsel, who won Belgium's "Golden Shoe" for best player in
2008, will be ineligible for the next 10 league matches and a
round of the Belgian Cup. He was also fined 2,500 euros
by the Belgian FA on Tuesday.
Witsel, 20, could additionally miss Standard's first four
Champions League matches should European football's governing body
UEFA extend the ban to their competition.
Wasilewski, 29, was stamped on by Witsel in the
25th minute of Anderlecht's 1-1 draw at home to Standard.
The incident has been the lead item on television news and
pictures of Wasilewski's contorted lower leg have been splashed
across Belgian newspapers.
Witsel has received emailed death threats, which the police
are taking seriously, according to Belgian media.