Soucek did not finish the game due to a laceration. Clear red, could have lost an eye, West Ham fans furious

Tomas Soucek has a reputation of a warrior who wants to finish the game at any cost, despite any health problems. But against Everton he had such a bloody cut on his face that he couldn’t really finish the game.

It was only the fourth time in the Premier League that Soucek had failed to finish a game. On his debut against Brighton he was withdrawn in the 85th minute, a few weeks later against Liverpool he was withdrawn in the 47th minute due to a muscle injury.

Last season he played 90 minutes each time, but didn’t finish one game. That was when he was red carded in the 97th minute against Fulham for elbowing an opposing player in the face. However, this decision was overturned, so Soucek played all 38 games and 90 minutes each time.

The fourth time he did not finish a game was on Sunday against Everton when he had to be withdrawn in the 78th minute due to a bloody cut on his face. Salomón Rondón made a rather clumsy tackle and hit the prone Soucek in the face with his boot.

The referee did not see this as a foul, so Rondon did not see a yellow card. West Ham fans, however, were of a completely different opinion. “He could have stepped anywhere else, but he kicked Soucek in the face. If I’m honest, it should have been a red,” wrote a Hammers fan on Twitter.

“You can’t tell me it was unintentional,” raged another West Ham supporter. “Shocking decision by the referee. He could have lost an eye. No VAR check. Shame,” fumed a Hammers fan. “A red card, ” another fan said, with one Londoner chiming in, “ How the [bleep] is that not a red card?”

Finally, Tomas Soucek took to his social media to send a message to fans:

“A few more stitches to add to the collection on my face. I never give up for any reason. Great win guys, keep up the good work. Don’t worry, I’m still alive,” Soucek wrote, adding a photo of his scarred face.

Source: Twitter, Livesport, Tomas Soucek