Aarau player faces legal action for 'criminal' tackle on opponent

Updated: 14 Dec, 2024 • • min read

Table of Contents

FC Zürich have decided to launch legal action against Aarau midfielder Sandro Wieser after his horrific tackle on Gilles Yapi-Yapo caused a serious knee injury.


FC Zürich player Gilles Yapi-Yapo is stretchered off the pitch after getting injured against Aarau Photo: FC Zürich

The 32-year-old Ivorian faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering at the hands of a dangerous tackle from Wieser in their Swiss Super League fixture on Sunday.

Wieser was sent off for the brutal challenge, which saw his boot slam into the right knee of Yapi-Yapo in Zürich's 1-0 win.

Zürich President Ancillo Canepa then lodged legal proceedings for intentional injury against Wieser.

Following the tackle, Yapi-Yapo was left with torn anterior and interior cruciate ligaments, serious cartilage damage, a meniscus tear, a torn kneecap, and deep bruising in his thigh.

"His knees, just about everything is broken which can be broken. I cannot accept something so simple. This will have consequences," Canepa told Blick.ch

Aarau published an apology from Liechtenstein international Wieser on their club website on Monday.

I want to apologise in due form at Gilles Yapi and FC Zürich for the committed foul. It was never my intention to hurt Gilles.

It is difficult to explain in retrospect, what happened on the field within a fraction of a second. As a young player I was missing the experience in this situation to correctly assess the situation and I lack the words to explain everything in detail.

Was it a reflex? An incorrect assessment? I do not want my explanations to sound like an excuse, I can only repeat that it is not my intention to injure my opponent when challenging for the ball.

I live for football and have never been regarded as a bully and will stand in the future for fairness in my profession. I am heartbroken that Gilles will not be able to play football for a long time after this collision.

I have visited Gilles still in the dressing room and apologised to him personally and would like to send to take this opportunity once again best wishes to Zürich.

I hope that we continue to meet with respect off the pitch, and athletic competition on the field is soon possible.