Video: Carlos Tevez scores brace, then breaks Ezequiel Ham's leg in unfortunate challenge

Ezequiel Ham suffered a fracture when vying for a 50-50 ball with Carloz Tevez

Carlos Tevez made news in Argentina for the right and wrong reasons when Boca Juniors beat Argentinos Juniors 3-1 at the Estadio Diego Armando. The former Juventus striker scored a brace to help his side win but was also involved in a leg-breaking tackle on Ezequiel Ham.

The Argentine striker moved back to his South America after nine successful seasons in Europe and had already made an impact at Boca Juniors, scoring four goals so far. Indeed, his first goal saw him receive the ball from the left flank and then make a run across the pitch towards the edge of the box. When he saw the opportunity to take a shot, he took it.

The shot was on target, beating the outstretched arms of the diving goalkeeper as it went into the top corner to spark off celebrations. Even the commentator can be heard losing his composure and drooling over the quality finish.

Tevez breaks Ham’s leg in 50-50 challenge

But soon after, things turned sour when he tried to fight for a ball with Argentinos’ Ezequiel Ham. With a slightly raised boot, Tevez came down hard on Ham’s right shin, snapping the bone below the knee. Ham had earlier scored the only goal for Argentinos.

The game was stopped as physios attended to Ham who was in obvious pain and signalling for medical assistance. He had to be stretchered off and taken to a hospital. It brought back horrific memories of Luke Shaw breaking his leg just a few days ago in the Champions League.

Tevez wasn’t booked for the challenge and the 31-year-old was already on a yellow card. But he was angry and sad after he was criticized for causing a grievous injury.

“It makes me angry because I went for the ball, it was neither malicious nor my intention to hurt him,” Tevez said, according to Diario Registrado.

“The touch told me I’d done something wrong.”

“I’m sad because I didn’t want to do anything bad to him. I’ve never hurt anyone, this is my first time. Now I’m going to see him and apologise, as I should do.”

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