The moment Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez made the challenge on Ezequeil Ham of the Argentinos Juniors on Saturday night, he likely knew something had gone terribly wrong.
"I went for the ball, I didn't have bad intentions," Tevez said in a televised interview after the game. "I'm sad because I didn't want to hurt the lad, I've never hurt anyone playing football, this is the first time."
Coming right on the heels of another horrific tackle that left Man United's Luke Shaw with a badly broken leg, this incident shows just how fast things can wrong in professional football.
Ham was stretchered off the field and underwent immediate surgery to repair the break. Recovering at the hospital, he had this to say to his fans on Twitter and Instagram: "I want to thank all the people, family, friends...It is a very difficult time...and with your support I will move forward better than before. Many thanks! Cheers."
In the same post-match interview, Tevez has said he will visit Ham in person and apologize.