Top 10 Worst Sporting Injuries Ever! Contains Graphic Images

What’s the worst thing you’ve seen this week? If you happened upon a photo of rugby player Davy McGregor’s ear injury in the last few days, it’s probably that.

The sickening injury was caused when his ear was caught by the shorts or hip of an opponent, and has led to a visit to the plastic surgeon.

For those who are not of a squeamish nature, here’s some equally disturbing sporting injuries. Now, I’m off to get sick.

Evander Holyfield
McGregor isn’t the first sports man to suffer a stomach-turning ear injury. Mike Tyson faced Evander Holyfield in 1997 for the WBA Heavyweight Championship and intended to do whatever it took to win.

In the third round, Tyson bit his opponent’s ear, removing a one-inch piece of cartilage, which he subsequently spat on the ring floor. Holyfield was furious, while Tyson was disqualified and lost his boxing licence.

David Busst
Mention gruesome sporting injuries to me, and the first name that springs to mind is David Busst. The former Coventry City defender suffered a horrific leg injury during a 1996 game against Manchester United, during a collision with Brian McClair and Denis Irwin.

It was so bad that Peter Schmeichel reportedly vomited at the sight of it and it took 12 minutes to clear the blood from the pitch.

Monica Seles
In 1993, Monica Seles was the best women’s tennis player in the world, and was leading a Magdalena Maleeva in Hamburg, when her career changed forever.

Günter Parche, an obsessive fan of Steffi Graf, somehow made his way onto the court and proceeded to stab 19-year-old between the shoulder blades. Parche was sentenced to two years’ probation and psychological treatment, while Seles would never reach another Grand Slam Single’s final.

Eduardo
While Busst unfortunately never played again after his injury, former Arsenal striker recovered from a similarly dreadful leg break in 2008. Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor caught the Croatian striker on his left leg while his foot was on the ground, breaking his fibula and dislocating his ankle.

It was so bad that Sky Sports decided not to show replays of it. Here’s Match of the Day’s take on it.

Patrick Battiston
Growing up, the likes of Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th didn’t phase me. If I wanted to scare myself, I watched a video of the 1982 World Cup semi-final between France and Germany.

French defender Patrick Battiston was clear through the German defence before being poleaxed by the opposition keeper Harald Schumacher. He slipped into a coma and was so bad that team-mate Michel Platini thought he was dead.

Anderson Silva
The UFC fighter lost his middleweight title in a bout with Chris Weidman in 2013, but more critically suffered an horrific leg break in the second round.

Clint Malarchuk
Ice hockey is a notoriously violent sport, but Buffalo Sabres’ Clint Malarchuk suffered a particularly nasty injury in a match in 1989. Basically, an opponent’s blade sliced his jugular vein open. Yeah, it’s as bad as it sounds so don’t watch this video if you’re queasy at the sight of blood.

Jessica Dube
While ice hockey may not be for the feint-hearted, the sport of ice skating is not renowned for being a dangerous sport.

Tell that to Jessica Dube though, who suffered a laceration to her left cheek and nose – and required 80 stitches – after being hit by her partner’s skate.

Paulo Diogo
What’s the worst that could happen celebrating a goal? A yellow card? Abuse from opposition fans? Well, actually you could lose a finger.

This is what happened Swiss footballer Diogo in 2004 after assisting a goal when playing for Servette. He jumped on the perimeter fence but got his wedding ring caught, tearing his finger off in the process. Even worse, he hadn’t been married that long.

Kevin Ware
Ware’s nauseating injury happened during a basketball match in 2013, when the Louisville player came down on his leg, resulting in his bone popping out of his skin.

He urged his team-mates to play on, saying “I’m fine, just win the game”. Which they did, while he underwent a two-hour operation in hospital.