Lille confirms worse scenario for Tiago Santos and makes complaint of arbitration

ANDthe worst possible scenario is confirmed. Tiago Santos suffered a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee, along with a meniscal injury, at this Saturday's meeting between Lille and Le Havre and will have to stay out of the field for a prolonged period of several months.

However, the French club published a statement with this information, but went further and criticized the arbitration team for not having made a review through the VAR, given the dangerous entry that was made by Le Havre’s player – which neither a warning took.

“ Although the Le Havre player’s intervention was visible in real time, many cameras captured the scene from different angles, of repetitions being immediately transmitted in slow motion and of the VAR being able to intervene in the event of a manifest error or a serious incident not detected – including a possible direct expulsion –, no penalty was imposed, not even a warning”, points Lille in the official note published on his website.

The French emblem states that it appealed to the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League to request a review of the way the referees and the VAR dealt with the incident, and they also identified another dangerous entry shortly after on Dilane Bakwa.

“The Club also registered a second very aggressive entry of the same player, a few minutes later, about Dilane Bakwa, which also did not result in card”, complete.

Check out the full statement:

“ During the game LOSC-HAC played this Saturday, October 10, the defense of LOSC, Tiago Santos, was forced to leave the field prematurely, having been removed on stretcher at 17 minutes of play, following an entry that, according to the evaluation of the club, was carried out behind, without control and dangerously, by a player from Le Havre.

With the player's consent, LOSC announced the diagnosis after the exams: a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the right knee, along with a meniscal injury. James thus suffered a serious injury that will require long rehabilitation. Today, the absolute priority of LOSC is, of course, to support its player, a member of the LOSC family, at this difficult time.

The entire club, its direction, as well as the technical and medical staff, are fully mobilized alongside James – who had already suffered a similar injury in 2024 – in order to provide him with all the human, medical and psychological support necessary.

In addition to the injury itself, the circumstances in which it occurred and the absence of sanction raise serious issues for the club.

Although the Le Havre player's intervention was visible in real time, many cameras captured the scene from different angles, of repetitions being immediately transmitted in slow motion and of the VAR being able to intervene in the event of a manifest error or a serious incident not detected – including a possible direct expulsion – there was no sanction, not even a warning.

The Club requests explanations regarding the assessment of this intervention by the arbitration team and the verifications carried out in the context of video assistance with regard to a possible direct expulsion.

In the evaluation of the Club, this entry was dangerous and, according to the rules of the game, justified the direct expulsion of the player, regardless of any physical consequences. The Club also registered a second very aggressive entry from the same player, a few minutes later, on Dilane Bakwa, which also did not result in card.

On the one hand, James Santos suffers from an injury that should keep him away from the field for many months and deprive him of exercising his profession and his passion.

On the other hand, the player who performed this intervention, which the Club considers uncontrolled, will be able to play in the next game of the championship, since no disciplinary action related to this incident has yet been taken. To date, no detailed explanation has been provided to the Club.

The LOSC appealed to the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League (LFP) to request a review of the way the arbitration team dealt with the incident and the use of video assistance, as well as the explanations to which it is entitled, both for the club and its player, in relation to this arbitration decision, which it considers contrary to the Rules of the Game, the protection of the physical integrity of the players and the principle of sport equity. It also asked the chairman of LFP to refer the matter back to the Disciplinary Commission.

LOSC is exploring all possible legal channels and reserves the right to bring any legal action necessary to obtain compensation for its losses. He will support James in whatever action he decides to take to defend his rights.”