Arsenal legend Lukas Podolski requested if he ‘tried to kill rival’ with horror deal with
Former Arsenal star Lukas Podolski, who is currently playing for Polish side Gornik Zabrze, produced a horror tackle during the eight-team indoor Spodek Super Cup
Former Arsenal star Lukas Podolski has been slammed for his disgraceful tackle during an exhibition tournament in Poland.
The Spodek Super Cup saw Podolski, who played 82 times and scored 31 goals for the Gunners, show no signs of cooling down despite the veteran in the twilight years of his career.
In the third-place play-off match, the ex-Germany international, wearing the captain’s armband, launched into a diving tackle that crashed into his opponent’s knee. He then hurled the ball and aimed some furious choice words at his opponent who laid on the floor.
Despite his aggressive behaviour, Podolski’s team, Gornik Zabrze, secured a 4-1 victory. After the game, the 39-year-old linked up with Kuba Siedleckim, of third division side Wisłoka Dębica, to apologise and gifted him a shirt.
In a heartfelt social media post, Podolski expressed: “There were emotions on the pitch, but after the match there is agreement. Sorry for the hard foul. All the best in the season.”
However, fans on social media were not impressed. One posted on X: “He actually tried to kill him wtf.” Another commented: “Shocking that from a professional. How’s he only got a yellow?”
A third said: “Its mad none of the lad’s team-mates did anything because to do this in such a game is c*** behaviour.” While a fourth simply said: “F****** weirdo.”
This isn’t the first time that Podolski has been caught up in controversy during an indoor tournament for Gornik Zabrze. Back in 2023, he was given his marching orders in the Schauinsland Reisen Cup after a heated confrontation with the match officials and even threw water onto the pitch, aimed at the referee.
The career of the 2014 World Cup winner is drawing to a close, and it’s not without its drama. Despite currently playing for Gornik Zabrze, earlier this season Podolski took part in a ‘farewell match’ for his former team Koln.
A huge 50,000 fans flocked to the RheinEnergieStadion to celebrate his illustrious career. However, during the festivities, Podolski ruffled feathers when he was spotted with a flare in the stands.
Pyrotechnics are strictly prohibited inside German stadiums and Podolski faced criticism from a former police director, and head of operations at the stadium. “Firstly, it is forbidden, secondly, he is a bad role model,” Volker Lange admonished.
