Schumacher’s collision with Battiston: The West German goalkeeper, Schumacher, comes off his line and charges right into French defender Battiston in the 1982 World Cup. It looked like Schumacher wasn’t trying to even win the soccer ball but going directly for Battiston and trying to take him out. Amazingly, no penalty kick was given. Battiston went into a coma after being taken out by Schumacher but did recover.
In the modern game of football, this would have been a straight red card on Schumacher. Thankfully any foul up or around the head is taken more seriously. And then with VAR, this type of collision between goalkeeper and attacker, would have been investigated. Plus, Schumacher would have most likely received a more long term ban from the game.
Watch the video of Schumacher taking out Battiston in the 1982 World Cup below. That’s Michel Platini playing the ball through to Battiston and it’s Platini who calls for the stretcher and the medical crew to come on to the field as quickly as possible. While it’s important for a keeper to come off their line to win the ball this effort by Schumacher should not be part of the game.
Schumacher regrets the collision and how he reacted afterwards towards Battiston. From ESPN:
When Battiston raced through after a pass from Michel Platini in the 57th minute, Schumacher charged into him with his shoulder. The France player was knocked out, lost two front teeth and suffered broken ribs and back damage.
Schumacher — who was not even booked — showed little interest in his opponent in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
And as France and Germany prepare to meet in the World Cup quarterfinals on Friday, he expressed his sorrow to French radio station RMC, saying: “I regret not having looked after Patrick when he was on the ground.
“I also regret not having gone to the hospital to visit him. But I did eventually apologise to Patrick, and he accepted it. This story should have ended in 1982, but it’s part of my life and I live with it.”
The former Cologne keeper said he had been in something like a trance during what he recalled as “the game of the century.”