Tottenham defender Kevin Danso has spoken publicly for the first time since his challenge left Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne with a nasty ankle injury during Tottenham’s 2-1 loss over the weekend.
The incident, which happened in the first half at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, has drawn plenty of attention after images of Digne’s injury began circulating online.
Danso, who was called into the starting lineup at the last minute after Cristian Romero suffered an injury during the warm-up, found himself in the middle of controversy after a strong tackle on Digne.
The challenge, which looked accidental but forceful, left the French defender in clear pain on the pitch. Referee Simon Hooper did not show a card or award a foul, a decision that immediately sparked protests from several Aston Villa players.
Digne, furious and frustrated, was later substituted and was seen visibly angry as he made his way to the bench.
Following the match, Digne took to social media to share an image of his heavily swollen and bruised ankle, captioning it with the phrase, “No pain, no gain.”
The post quickly spread among fans and journalists, adding more fuel to the debate about whether Danso should have faced disciplinary action.
Addressing the situation ahead of Tottenham’s upcoming Champions League fixture against Monaco, Danso expressed regret for the incident and made it clear that there was never any malicious intent behind the challenge.
Speaking to the media, he said, “I saw the picture of his ankle, and it looked really bad. I didn’t get the chance to speak to him after the game, but I did apologise to him on the pitch.
I want to say again publicly that I’m sorry. There was no malice in it at all my intention is never to injure anybody.”
Danso’s statement comes as an attempt to cool tensions after what was an emotionally charged match.
The Austrian defender, who is still new to the Premier League, has earned a reputation for his physical style of defending but insists that his focus is always on playing fair and helping his team.
“Sometimes in football, things happen in the heat of the game,” he added. “You go for the ball, and it just doesn’t come off the way you expect. Unfortunately, this time it led to something I never wanted to happen.”
The apology has been well received by many fans, including some from Aston Villa, who acknowledged the sincerity in Danso’s words.
However, it remains unclear how long Digne will be sidelined, as Aston Villa’s medical team continues to assess the extent of his injury.
The left-back has been a key figure for Unai Emery’s side this season, and his absence could be a blow for the club in the coming fixtures.
For Tottenham, the focus now shifts to Europe, but Danso’s heartfelt apology serves as a reminder of the fine line players often walk between aggression and care in high-stakes football.
While no further disciplinary action has been reported, both clubs will hope that Digne makes a full and speedy recovery and that Danso can move forward from the incident with lessons learned.
