"Paul Gerrard got the ball, Hunt didn't pull his leg back … Oh God!"
The substitute goalkeeper, Gerrard, was originally holding the ball in his arms and pressing it under his body, but he was suddenly knocked over by Hunt.
Hunt, who had knocked into him, probably thought it was nothing. It was just a physical contact, and he even smiled at the camera. But just as he turned around, he saw a huge fist appear in front of him, and then he was sent flying.
After George Wood punched him, because he had used too much force, his right leg was still in a raised posture after he punched out. It was like evidence, clearly showing to the referee that he was the one who had punched Stephen Hunt in that split second.
Wood's movements were too fast. From the moment Kim Doo-hyun passed the ball out, he had already chased after it at high speed. Unfortunately, he was still a step behind and did not separate the goalkeeper, Gerrard and Hunt.
Because he was the closest, he saw Hunt's small movements clearly. He did not care whether Hunt's movements were intentional or not. He only knew that it was a truly hurtful movement, and it was a head injury — the most important part of the human body. Even boxing required the head to be protected. One careless move could result in death!
He did not manage to separate Hunt in time, but he still had time to give Hunt a punch.
And so, Hunt, who had plotted against Paul Gerrard, was sent flying out of the field by George Wood's powerful straight punch.
Hunt's sneak attack on Gerrard was still considered subtle, but George Wood's punch was naked stadium violence.
The referee, Riley's whistle finally sounded.
With Wood as the center, the players from both sides immediately rushed forward, intending to fight.
Just as the players were pushing and shoving each other on the field, Tang En grabbed the collar of the fourth official and shouted at him, "Stop the match, get the ambulance! Don't you see someone fainting? "
There were also people on the field shouting, "Stop fighting, save people!!"
"Didn't you hear? Save people! "
"Damn it, referee, blow the whistle and let them calm down!"
The players from both sides were forcibly separated. Looking at the unconscious Gerrard on the ground, they all calmed down. The ball had long rolled out of the end line. Was this a corner kick or a goal kick? No one cared about that anymore.
Nottingham Forest's team doctor had already run up to give Gerrard emergency treatment while the referee, Riley, was still busy controlling the agitated players from both sides.
"The situation is very bad. He needs to be sent directly to the hospital." Fleming shook his head and said to the referee who came over to inquire.
Only then did the referee wave his hand to signal the ambulance that was parked at the exit to come over.
Then, as the paramedics loaded Gerald into the ambulance, Riley whistled for Wood to follow him.
Wood knew very well that he would not obediently follow them. He looked at Gerrard, who was tied to the stretcher, took off the captain's armband and threw it to Piqué. Then, he turned around and walked straight to the players' tunnel on the sidelines.
Behind him was Riley's raised hand and the red card in his hand.
After that, Riley didn't punish the perpetrator, Stephen Hunt. He didn't even give him a verbal warning!
Hunter fell to the ground and was also being treated by the team doctor. But at most, his face was swollen, which was nothing compared to Gerrard's injury. With such an injury, Reading F.C.'s medical team stayed on the sidelines for five minutes. During those five minutes, the boos directed at Hunter did not stop.
Without Gerrard, Edwin van der Sar had no choice but to go into battle. After George Wood was sent off with a red card, Tang En could only substitute another player. This time, he chose to substitute the striker, Bendtner.
Bendtner walked off the field with gritted teeth. He wasn't unhappy about being substituted. He was furious that his teammate had been plotted against, and the perpetrator was still at large.
"Be careful!" Tang En pulled Edwin van der Sar and exhorted him when he went on again.
Edwin van der Sar nodded, his expression grave.
This time, everyone was surprised by Tang En's worry.
After Edwin van der Sar ran onto the field, the boos stopped temporarily and were replaced by applause. After the starting goalkeeper, Gerrard, had just been knocked unconscious and sent to the hospital, it did require some courage to go on the field to defend the goal.
Nottingham Forest's goalkeeper had just gone on the field when Hunter also stood on the sidelines, raising his hand to ask to enter.
At that moment, it was as if someone was giving orders. The applause for Edwin van der Sar immediately turned into an earth-shattering boos. It was so loud that it made people stop breathing.
Amid such boos, Tang En stood in front of the technical area, his eyes fixed on Hunter, his chest heaving up and down violently.
※ ※ ※
"Riley approved Hunter's request to go on the field again. This is somewhat inconceivable. That small action is absolutely immoral. Kicking a leg or a hand and kicking a head are two completely different things. Seeing Hunter go on the field again, the expressions of the Forest players changed. I think Riley is going to be busy for this match … Also, Paul Gerrard's injury is worrying. I hope nothing will happen to him … "
The commentator was right. Riley also found it difficult to continue controlling the match. Originally, there were five minutes of injury stoppage time in the first half, but after only two minutes, he hurriedly blew the whistle to end the first half of the match.
The whistle had just sounded, and the players on the field had yet to do anything drastic. Tony Tang En rushed to the away team's technical area and roared at Steve Coppell, "This is your f * cking football, Coppell!"
Coppell ignored Tang En and walked quickly to the tunnel. Instead, it was his assistant manager, Dillon, who walked over to confront Tang En. "Please watch your words, Mr. Tang En!"
Tang En pushed him away. "Get lost. You're not qualified to talk to me!"
After pushing Reading F.C.'s assistant manager away, Tang En roared at Coppell's back so that the television reporters at the scene could hear him. "Why aren't you saying anything, Coppell? Don't think that you can get away with being silent. Bring out the courage that you used to let your players teach us a lesson! Where did your * ss and balls go between your legs?! "Coppell still did not reply, but his footsteps quickened. "If anything happens to my players, I'm afraid that I'll die!" That bastard Stephen Hunter is a murderer, and you, son of a b * tch, are the instigators! We'll see you in court then! "
"Mr. Tony Tang En, watch your words …" The fourth official warned Tang En from behind.
Tang En turned around abruptly and glared at him. He was so frightened that he swallowed the rest of his words.
"Our debt will be settled separately. Mr. Referee. "Twain threw down this sentence and also walked into the tunnel.
Reading F.C.'s assistant manager, Dillon, who had been pushed away by him just now, still wanted to come up and demand an explanation from Tang En, but he was dragged back by the stadium security.
"Can … Can I take this as a threat to the referee?!" The fourth official questioned loudly.
"Up to you, Mr. Referee," Kerslake replied as he walked past him. He followed the Nottingham Forest coaches back with solemn faces.
Only Dunn stayed behind to explain to the furious fourth official. "Please understand their feelings, Mr. Referee. Their own players have been sent to the hospital, and it's unknown whether they're dead or alive. "
The fourth official looked at those who did not give him face, then glanced at the Chinese man in front of him. He turned and walked away with a livid expression.
Dunn scratched his head helplessly. He turned and ran back to the tunnel to catch up with the main group.
The media were excited. The scene that happened during the halftime interval was too exciting. There would be a good show to watch in tomorrow's news! The intense conflict in the match, and the halftime interval was a three-way battle royale!
※ ※ ※
Back in the locker room, Tang En received a call from the team doctor, Fleming, who had followed Gerrard to the hospital.
"Good news, Tony. The preliminary examination shows that Paul's life is not in danger. "
Tang En let out a long sigh. "Is there a fracture in his head?"
"So far, there's nothing. The bad news is that he will likely have to rest for more than six months. We have to consider the aftereffects of his concussion. We don't know if he can return to the field to continue guarding the goal. "
Tang En was silent again.
The locker room was silent. Everyone was quietly listening to Tang En's phone call. Although they could not hear Fleming's voice over the phone, they could roughly guess from Tang En's expression.
After a moment of silence, Tang En hummed and hung up the phone. He then looked at the room full of expectant gazes.
"Paul's life is not in danger," he said.
He could clearly hear the sound of the players letting out a long sigh. The oppressive and suffocating atmosphere just now was relieved.
Tang En did not say the bad news. He was afraid it would affect the players' emotions.
"George." He looked at the captain's seat. "You come with me." With that, he patted Kerslake's shoulder and signaled him to be in charge of explaining the tactics.
Wood stood up obediently and followed Tang En out the door.
"All right, guys. Calm down. Let's discuss the second half again …"
Kerslake's voice faded as the door closed.
There was no one left in the corridor. Other than a few stadium staff hurrying past, no one else disturbed Tang En and Wood.
"George, how many times have you been sent off because of impulsiveness?" Tang En asked as he stared at Wood.
Wood lowered his head and did not say a word.
This was the typical attitude of a dead pig not afraid of boiling water. Tang En frowned and raised his voice slightly. "You're the captain. Can you calm down a little? After you were sent off, we were very passive! There's still 45 minutes left in the game. Who knows what else will happen? Moreover, do you know the price of your punch?! "
One of the important measures taken by the English Football Association in the English Premier League this season was to "severely punish stadium violence." Just before this game, Manchester City's defender, Ben Thatcher, elbowed Portsmouth's midfielder, Mendes, in the game, causing the other side to faint. He was then suspended for an additional eight games by the English Football Association!
This season, the Football Association's punishment for such stadium violence fouls was very severe. Manchester United's Scholes and Rooney were both suspended for three rounds in the league tournament because they received red cards in the pre-season friendlies.
The former was just a foul, but George Wood's deliberate punch was bound to be seen by the Football Association as a blatant provocation to their authority. There was almost no need to guess what kind of punishment awaited Wood! It was no wonder that Tang En was so angry.
Wood was silent for a moment. He heard the breathing on the other side getting heavier. He knew that the boss was really angry, so he opened his mouth and said, "When I … met Roy Keane, he told me that he used to think about whether he should make a move after beating someone up. Later, he learned to think about whether he should make a move before beating someone up."
Tang En was confused. "What does this have to do with our topic?"
"This time, I thought about making a move again," Wood said, raising his head.
Tang En held his head in his hands. He was defeated!
Roy, you bastard. Of all the things you could teach, you taught George this!
"You idiot … If the referee had intended to punish the player who committed the foul, you would have thrown yourself in with this punch!"
"Was that number 10 punished?" Wood asked.
Tang En froze for a moment, then replied indignantly, "No!" He certainly knew what Wood meant. "You're not an emissary of justice, George. You're the captain of the team. No matter what, you have to put the interests of the whole team in the first place … "
"I know," George replied.
"You know, but you still …" Tang En was really angry with him for talking to him.
"If I didn't fight, they would have done the same." Wood pointed to the door of the locker room.
Tang En could not refute this. He knew his team best. What Wood said was right. Many of the players in this Forest team had played together for several years. Their relationship was very deep, and they had long regarded each other as one of their own. How could they stand idly by when one of their own was bullied?
This fight was unavoidable no matter what.
There was a brief silence between the two of them.
"Alright, George. If you seriously thought about it before you punched that bastard, I believe you know the consequences of this punch. "
Wood nodded.
"Then, the next time something like this happens … hit harder!"
This time, Wood looked up at Tang En with a strange expression.
"You're going to get a red card and an additional suspension anyway. If the other party doesn't follow you to the hospital, there's no meaning in your ending. To put it bluntly, you're just venting your anger." Tang En shrugged. "Your fist has to have a greater effect. Do you understand what I mean? "
Wood looked pensive, then nodded.
"Go on, go back." Tang En patted him on the shoulder and opened the locker room door for him.
By the time Tang En and Wood returned to the locker room, Kerslake had already said what he needed to say and was waiting for Tang En to conclude.
"Everyone knows the current situation. I'll cut to the chase. We must win this match! We don't care what methods you use. In short, you must stop that bunch of bastards for me! Foul, I don't care! Red card, yellow card? Let that stupid referee take it out of his pants and try! He doesn't even have a dick, how can he have a f * cking card? "
※ ※ ※
The final result of the match was Nottingham Forest defeating Reading 1: 0.
Although they had won, it was a pyrrhic victory for Tang En.
In the second half, both sides played with resentment. Pepe injured his knee in a fierce fight with the opposing defender and was carried off the field. The team doctor's initial diagnosis was that the situation was not optimistic, so Pepe was replaced by Kompany. Songke was sent off the field with a red card by the referee on duty, Riley, because of this foul. Even though it was just a normal fierce fight, it could not be compared to Hunt's malicious wounding in the first half.
Therefore, the commentator ridiculed Riley for trying to find balance in the game. Unfortunately, his attempt to please the home team attracted even louder boos.
Hunt, who had crippled Paul Gerrard, was replaced by Coppell with the Korean striker, Xue Qixuan, not long after the start of the second half. Hunt had already become the target of Forest's "encirclement and hunting" on the field. As long as he had the ball, there would be Forest players who would go up and "violently collide." Most of the time, Riley acquiesced to Forest's actions. Even so, Forest's players still received three yellow cards because of Hunt.
This ignited Reading Team's anger. Both sides played more and more aggressively, and Riley was completely unable to control the situation. In the final moments of the match, he began to frequently play cards.
Ashley Young was sent off with a red card because he had accumulated two yellow cards. Xue Qixuan, who had only come on in the second half, was also directly sent off with a red card because he had elbowed Kompany during a fight for a header.
When the match entered injury stoppage time, the agitated coaching staffs of both sides also clashed on the sidelines. Kerslake angrily went forward to question Reading Team's rough style of play, saying that they were not playing football at all, but fighting a war. Reading Team's assistant manager, Dillon, had long been dissatisfied with Forest, so he naturally came out to accept the challenge. If not for the colleagues of both sides desperately pulling each other apart, the two could have directly engaged in a real fight right under the eyes of the fourth official.
Tang En did not pull his assistant away. He looked on coldly from the sidelines, feeling a little belligerent. Now, he was completely not thinking about how he would play in the next round against Arsenal. He just wanted to vent his frustrations in the match before him!
The referee is not going to punish us, is he? My men will do it myself!
Amidst the double chaos on the sidelines and on the field, the referee, Riley, who had completely lost control of the situation and the emotions of the players on both sides, hurriedly blew the whistle for the end of the match, completely ignoring the seven-minute stoppage that the fourth official had just raised up.
His whistle had just sounded when it was drowned out by the deafening boos in the City Ground stadium.
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