This one was so bad, Esteban Cambiasso went to the Juventus locker room to apologize. According to reports, he apologized to Sebestian Giovinco. He apologized to Antonio Conte. He apologized to the entire Juventus team.
It’s the least he could do after what could only euphemistically be called a rash challenge. Late in today’s game in Milan with Inter chasing a goal, Cambiasso lunged at Giovinco as Juventus was trying to play out the clock. As you can see, Giovinco appeared to be seriously injured, Cambiasso’s extended leg making contact just above the ankle.
Thankfully, it appears he wasn’t. While Giovinco’s leg bends as if it may have been broken, no break was reported following initial evaluations. After visiting with the Juventus attacker, Cambiasso said Giovinco was feeling better, though after having the next few years of his career flash before his eyes, you can understand why Giovinco’s mind was moving into a better place.
“My tackle was late, no doubt,” Cambiasso told reporters after the match. “I apologized twice with Giovinco. My career speaks about me, I never wanted to harm him.”
Not wanting into harm somebody should go without saying, and it’s really irrelevant in this situation. If Cambiasso had wanted to hurt Giovinco, he may have executed his lunge in the exact way. If your actions would be same regardless of intent, why does intent matter? Perhaps somebody else think of a good answer; regardless, soccer players have to be more responsible about the dangers they pose to other players. The second he lunges, Cambiasso’s showing a level of disrespect to Giovinco.
It was the first straight red of Cambiasso’s Serie A career, so we have reason to bring out the old English cliché: the Argentine’s probably not “that kind of player.” And if Giovinco’s willing to look at things that way and accept Cambiasso’s apology, I suppose we should move on, too.