FIFA to investigate Taylor for tackle on Coleman

Wales international Neil Taylor will be investigated by international football’s governing body FIFA for his horror tackle on Republic of Ireland’s Seamus Coleman that left the Everton defender with a double break in his lower leg last Friday. Taylor currently plies his trade in the Championship with Aston Villa, having been sold by Swansea City in the January transfer window.

He was sent off immediately after the tackle, and the red card carries an automatic one-game suspension with it. Wales’ next international is in June, another World Cup qualifier this time in Serbia and Taylor is suspended for it. However, with FIFA opening proceedings, there is a chance that the suspension could be extended.

A couple of days ago, FIFA levied a four-game ban on five-time Player of the Year Lionel Messi for abusive language directed towards a match official. What’s worse for Argentina is that the ban is exclusively for World Cup qualifying games only, and puts the Albiceleste in danger of missing out on the 2018 tournament altogether.

Coleman meanwhile was discharged from hospital yesterday and starts his long road to recovery, with it expected to take at least six to eight months before he can step on the pitch once again.

His fellow Toffee Ashley Williams, captain of the Welsh team, later said that Taylor expressed remorse and tried to contact Coleman to apologize in person.

"Neil was gutted. He was sitting on the floor virtually in tears. Even people who don't know Seamus like I do were gutted.

"He asked me to check if it would be OK to go to see Seamus in hospital. He got his number off me and sent him a text straight away.

"When I found out it was a broken leg it made me feel sick inside because it's someone who I like so much and is one of my mates."