An extremely dirty college football play that resulted in a broken leg is at the center of controversy in Mexico. A permanent ban was also issued for the player responsible.
The incident occurred during a game between the National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (IPN) Burros Blancos and the Monterrey Institute of Technology (Tec) Borregos Salvajes over the weekend. It was gross.
Tec, the reigning national champion, had the ball at IPN’s one-yard-line. A handoff went for no gain and created a pile up.
Borregos left tackle Diogo Zanchet Fernández was standing up at the end of the play. Burros linebacker Osvaldo Canchola — who weighs approximately 250 pounds — intentionally threw his entire bodyweight on top of the opponent’s leg. The disturbing fall was as deliberate as it gets.
Here is a vide of how it all went down:
Fernández suffered multiple injuries because of Canchola’s fall. They include a complete rupture of the medical patellofemoral ligament and a rupture of more than 50% of his MCL.
The hope is that he will be able to avoid surgery, but at the very least, he will miss the remainder of the current season.
In response to the dirty move, Canchola was immediately removed from the team.
At the National Polytechnic Institute we value and promote fair play, integrity and respect in all our activities, and especially in the field of sports. In line with these values, we have made the decision to separate the Canchola player immediately […]
We reiterate our most sincere support for Fernández and wish him a speedy recovery. We offer a sincere apology to ITESM Campus Monterrey and the entire American football community. We reaffirm our commitment to fair play, education and the values that represent our institute of higher learning.
— Secretary of Educational Services of IPN Marco Antonio, in a loose translation
Fernández explained his side of the story earlier this week. He alluded to dirty play throughout the afternoon, which ultimately concluded with Canchola’s fall.
I come to explain what happened during a match between MTY Lambs and White Donkeys. Throughout the match an anti-sport attitude was noticed by some players, but missing two minutes to end the match with 37-0 lead, Osvaldo Canchola, wearing the shirt number 1 of the team Donkeys Blanco, intentionally injure myself, in a dead play, attacking my leg as in the video seen countless times. You can tell that I’m not even in front of him and during the play, I’m partly careful not to fall on top of his partner number 58, already on the ground, he sees my knee and just jumps on top with all intention. of hurting myself.
I really don’t think anyone can have that kind of attitude in a sport that is already high impact and high risk. I left my home country to play and live Mexican football in all its potential and magnitude. I think these kinds of attitudes do not correspond to what this sport deserves and seeks, these attitudes should not be allowed today or ever, because they do not stain their name, but also the institution they represent and more so the ONEFA league by not to have been penalized. That’s why I ask for action to be taken on this issue and the sanctions that come with it. In addition to missing matches from this injury, I will be entering into a recovery process that will hopefully be non-surgical. In short, I think someone with that kind of attitude is no longer present in a sport like this, which values honor far more than victory. I hope the league and it’s institution can take appropriate action for a person like this.
— Diogo Zanchet Fernández, in a loose translation
Not long thereafter, the governing body of college football in Mexico (Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Fútbol Americano) issued a permanent ban. As a result, Canchola will never be allowed to hold any position — player, coach, official, administrator or otherwise — within American football in Mexico.
He is ultimately responsible for the knee injury. Canchola singlehandedly ended the season for Fernández with his deliberate, targeted fall after the play.
It was a dirty play that deserved punishment. Period.
The ONEFA took action after a few days of deliberation and decided that Canchola’s career is done. Hopefully that is not the same for Fernández. Hopefully he is able to make a comeback!