Marcus Thuram was lucky to avoid a red card as he channelled his inner-Vinnie Jones in Inter Milan’s defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone’s Atleti may be known as being masters of the dark arts, but it was the French forward that produced a below-the-belt moment.
With the scores level at 2-2 on aggregate, the Champions League last-16 second leg went to extra-time – with Inter fortunate they weren’t reduced to ten men.
In the early stages of extra-time, Thuram was being marked by ex-Manchester City centre-back Stefan Savic as a throw-in was prepared to be taken.
With his shirt being pulled – and with revenge possibly on his mind having been elbowed in the back of the head by Savic earlier in the tie – Thuram reacted by grabbing the Serbian’s privates.
It was reminiscent of Wimbledon legend Jones getting a handful of ex-Newcastle star Paul Gascoigne‘s genitals in 1988.
Savic instantly hit the deck, where he could be seen screaming in pain – though VAR deemed Thuram’s moment of madness as not worthy of a sending off.
Inter boss Simone Inzaghi immediately reacted by hauling the ex-Borussia Monchengladbach player off.
Though he may have regretted his decision after Inter crashed out of the European Cup having lost on penalties.
But it was Thuram’s grab that proved to be the key talking point of the match, as talkSPORT commentator Geoff Peters said: “If you did this in the street, you’d be arrested.”
Marcus Thuram certainly left his mark on Stefan Savic…
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 13, 2024#UCLpic.twitter.com/QJVfrj1pYG
Football fans were quick to comment on the shocking squeeze, as one X user quipped: “Thuram has a Vinnie Jones v Gazza poster on his wall.”
Another posted: “Thuram has clearly seen the famous picture of Vinnie Jones and Paul Gascoigne.”
This supporter then commented: “I don’t understand how that’s not a red card?! No difference from squeezing someone’s throat…”
Meanwhile another simply stated: “VAR took a toilet break at this very moment!”
