Slavisa Jokanovic has confirmed that Fulham forward Lucas Piazon broke his leg after a challenge at Leeds last night – and was furious with an apparent suggestion by one of the match officials that this was part and parcel of English football.
Piazon, who was rewarded for his fine individual goal at Reading on Saturday with a place in the starting line-up at Elland Road on Tuesday night, immediately signalled to be substituted having been caught in the follow through of Connor Shaugnessy’s tackle on the touchline during the first half of the 0-0 draw. Piazon was carried down the touchline by the Fulham medical staff and a distraught Jokanovic revealed after the final whistle that he had broken his fibula.
The 23 year-old, who had returned to Fulham earlier in the summer for a second loan spell from Chelsea after a successful year at Craven Cottage last term, is now likely to return to Stamford Bridge for treatment after such a serious injury. Jokanovic told his post-match press conference:
We are so disappointed for this situation about Lucas Piazon. I believe he broke the fibula or broke the leg. It’s a very bad injury and we will lose him for a long time. It’s not a question about complaining – it can be bad luck or a tackle outside of the normal.
But I’m really disappointed with what I heard from one of the referees who explained ‘this is English football and this is completely legal’. I am a 48-year-old man and I’ve never heard an ugly answer like I heard today in this stadium.
The luckless Piazon had already endured one serious injury whilst playing for Fulham – having broken his jaw against Cardiff City last February and fought his way back to full fitness to return towards the tail end of the Championship run-in last season.
