Tiago Santos suffers severe knee injury during Lille vs Le Havre match

LOSC Lille defender Tiago Santos has suffered a severe knee injury, confirming a total rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee and a meniscal tear. The 24-year-old Portuguese player was forced off on a stretcher during a Ligue 1 match against Le Havre after a challenge from midfielder Amir Richardson.

This marks a devastating setback for Santos, who previously suffered an ACL rupture in his left knee in October 2024. The injury is expected to sideline him for several months.

Lille has expressed significant frustration regarding the officiating, noting that while a foul was called, Richardson received neither a yellow nor a red card. The club has referred the incident to the French Football Federation and the Professional Football League (LFP) for review, describing the tackle as “uncontrolled and dangerous.”

In a stern statement, LOSC indicated they are considering legal action to seek compensation for damages. Le Havre has responded by supporting Santos's recovery while defending the refereeing decisions, stating that the match officials and VAR did not deem a sanction necessary.