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Scars of horrific clash still with Battiston

To this day, some 32 years on, not a week goes by when Patrick Battiston is not asked about being the victim of the most notorious foul in World Cup history.

Battiston was carried off the field after a contentious collision with Schumacher. The Frenchman lost two teeth, suffered three broken ribs and a damaged vertebrae. Photo: Getty Images

Battiston was carried off the field after a contentious collision with Schumacher. The Frenchman lost two teeth, suffered three broken ribs and a damaged vertebrae. Photo: Getty Images

To this day, some 32 years on, not a week goes by when Patrick Battiston is not asked about being the victim of the most notorious foul in World Cup history.

Battiston, who was part of their 1984 European Championship-winning side, was brutally knocked unconscious by Harald Schumacher in the semi-final of the 1982 tournament.

The incident has been revived in the lead-up to France’s quarter-final clash with Germany on Friday (tomorrow morning, Singapore time). Schumacher’s reckless shoulder charge on Battiston was so severe that, to this day, he has a cracked vertebrae and damaged teeth. In the incident known as the “Tragedy of Seville”, Schumacher, staggeringly, was not even booked by referee Charles Corver.

“I remember his attitude even when I was sitting on the substitutes’ bench,” said Battiston, now 57 and the manager of Bordeaux’s youth academy. “I observed his behaviour, the way he clashed with Dominique Rocheteau and Didier Six. I thought he was very hyped up, very excitable. I remarked on this to the other players on the bench.”

With the scores level at 1-1 and just seven minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute, Battison was played through by Michel Platini with a defence-splitting pass.

Schumacher raced off his line and followed through Battiston with a grotesque shoulder charge. The Frenchman lost two teeth, suffered three broken ribs and also the back damage that remains. While Battiston’s team-mates frantically called for a stretcher, Schumacher simply stood waiting to take a goal-kick with a rather bored expression.

Schumacher was not even contrite when informed that Battiston had lost some teeth. “I will pay for the crowns,” he said.

“That was not a very wise remark — it was pretty gauche,” said Battiston. “Maybe he did feel guilty, one can draw all sorts of conclusions as to what he did feel. All I know is that Schumacher was someone who wanted to win at all costs and he went way over the top that evening.”

The wider French public were outraged. The West German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, and French President Francois Mitterrand eventually released a joint press release to ease tensions and the players appeared at a joint press conference.

A tiring France eventually lost on penalties despite having led 3-1 in extra-time. “People talk to me about 1982 often,” Battiston told AFP. “But it wasn’t only about me.”

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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