CHARLIE AUSTIN will almost certainly face FA action after appearing to deliberately kick Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl in the head.
The Southampton striker sent the Saints into the lead in the 24th minute, before he was at the centre of controversy at St Mary’s.
Charlie Austin Video.
pic.twitter.com/5lxWELDbmQ
— Sherrie (@FollowSherrie) December 23, 2017
Austin was chasing a loose ball in the 32nd minute, but even though the Swiss shot-stopper claimed the ball, the 28-year-old booted Lossl in the face.
Blood poured from the nose as medics rushed to his aide, with Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas claiming that Austin is “lucky it’s not a red card.”
And it was a statement echoed by BT Sport pundit Glenn Hoddle, who said: “I can’t understand where his mind is coming from. He knew the goalkeeper was going to take the ball, easily.
“It’s not like a 50/50, he’s just followed through, and I tell you, he could have took his eye out. It was horrendous.”
Former Liverpool and Manchester United ace Paul Ince also weighed in with his opinion, claiming the officials should have seen it.
He said: “It’s OK saying retrospective bans and that, but at the end of the day, they’ve got to see that the officials.”
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But Austin was eventually forced off the pitch after he picked up a suspected hamstring injury in the second half.
David Wagner’s men ended up taking a point back to the John Smith’s Stadium after a 64th minute striker from Laurent Depoitre.
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"He could've took his eye out…"
"They've got to see that the officials!"@GlennHoddle and @PaulInce react to Charlie Austin.
Ince isn't happy
#BTSportScore pic.twitter.com/pcrXyA49Zk
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) December 23, 2017
But the Terriers will argue they could have picked up the win should they have played almost 60 minutes against ten men if Austin had been shown a red card.
Here is just a selection of tweets about the Austin tackle.
Charlie Austin
"I know the kid, that's not like him to do that…"
The #BTSportScore team react to the Southampton striker catching Jonas Lössl in the face. pic.twitter.com/AU8wro8Ggu
— BT Sport Score (@btsportscore) December 23, 2017
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