Anderlecht player Axel Witsel became public enemy number one here Monday a day after putting Standard Liege s Marcin Wasilewski in hospital with a broken ankle and facing a year out of football.
Wasilewski, 29, underwent an operation after the 1-1 league draw on Sunday to reduce the fracture but, with an injury similar to the horrific one suffered by Arsenal s Eduardo in February 2008, he is expected to go under the knife again next week.
His club Standard, the defending league champions from the French-speaking city of Liege, said the defender could be out for a year meaning he will miss the World Cup finals if Poland manage to qualify.
Witsel meanwhile was put through the wringer by the country s press, which is believed to be partly because he is considered a great hope for the future having won the Golden Boot trophy for the best player in the Belgian championship in 2008.
Flemish-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws was one of several that put the story on their front pages, calling Witsel s challenge an absolute disgrace , while French language paper Le Soir called Witsel s gesture a moment of madness .
Witsel quickly apologised for the horror tackle but the 20-year-old Belgian international was shunned by some of his teammates and the club s sponsor was so shocked it released a statement hitting out at the player.
Witsel will appear at a disciplinary hearing at the Belgian football federation (URBSFA) on Tuesday and is expected to be handed a lengthy ban.
