LionsXII defender Wahyudi Wahid stamped on, escapes with a headache
Just watching the video clip of LionsXII defender Wahyudi Wahid getting a boot to his head is enough to make one flinch.
The 25-year-old was blatantly stamped on the head by New Radiant defender Mohamad Rasheed during a clash with the LionsXII in the POMIS Cup in Maldives last Saturday (Jan 24).
Unbelievably, Wahyudi suffered only a headache.
Singapore's Malaysian Super League side won the match 3-1, but the incident in the 77th minute ensured an ugly end to what was already an ill-tempered contest.
Following a well-timed sliding challenge by right back Wahyudi, the New Radiant player leapt to avoid contact - and stamped on the Singapore's player head on his way down.
The impact was enough to cause Wahyudi's head to rebound off the pitch.
Ouch, that's got to hurt: Defender Wahyudi was stamped on during a match. Photo: Facebook
A number of LionsXII players, including captain Isa Halim and Khairul Amri, rushed to confront the New Radiant defender, but the rest of the Maldives team and the match officials intervened to prevent a free-for-all.
Rasheed, 29, was duly sent off.
The match ended with two red cards - LionsXII winger Gabriel Quak was also sent off after two cautions- and 10 yellow cards.
After receiving treatment for five minutes, Wahyudi managed to play on until the final whistle.
"They were losing 3-0 at the time and I guess the player was either angry at us or his team," Wahyudi told The New Paper.
"Throughout the game, he was spitting at me, Nazrul (Nazari), and Madhu (Mohana).
"At first, when I got hit, I was just shocked. I never lost consciousness, and after the physio treated me, I felt okay to continue the game."
He added: "After the game, I felt a bit of a headache, but nothing serious."
The defender also quipped:
"Thankfully, I turned my head before contact.
"If not, he would have (hit) my face and I would no longer be handsome."
Coach Fandi Ahmad said New Radiant sent the LionsXII an e-mail apology after the match, and revealed that the tournament committee had banned the player for the rest of the tournament.
Wahyudi is one of eight new players in the LionsXII squad and featured in all three of the team's games in the Maldives as regular rightback Faritz Hameed is injured.
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