Former England Lioness Steph Houghton has responded after being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from Leonardo Bonucci during Sunday evening’s Soccer Aid match. Despite England taking an early 3-0 lead through goals from Wayne Rooney, Toni Duggan, and Jermain Defoe, they ultimately fell 5-4 to the World XI.
Carlos Tevez - returning to Old Trafford, where he played on both sides of Manchester’s divide - scored four goals to lead a dramatic comeback. Rapper Big Zuu then sealed the win with a late goal. The event, which raised £15 million for UNICEF’s global work with children, was intended to be a light-hearted, friendly match. But not everyone stuck to the script.
Bonucci, known for his no-nonsense defending with Italy and Juventus, seemed to take things a bit too seriously. As Houghton surged down the right wing into open space, the 38-year-old launched into a forceful tackle. Watch the incident below: