Video: Premier League horror challenge doesn’t even get free-kick

The Premier League this weekend saw one of the most horrific challenges made for a long time in England’s top flight – but it didn’t even get a free-kick.

Wigan Athletic’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Sunday evening was vital in their fight to avoid relegation once again but the match was marred by the first half incident.

Young midfielder Callum McManaman was making his full Premier League debut for the Latics and was playing well before the incident midway through the first half.

The 21-year-old lunged for the ball and followed through right on to the knee of Newcastle defender Massadio Haidara.

The France Under-21 international looked seriously hurt and manager Alan Pardew confirmed after the match that he had been taken to hospital with suspected knee ligament damage.

If suffering the challenge wasn’t bad enough, Newcastle did not even get a free-kick for the incident, never mind the red card McManaman should have been shown.

Replays after the incident suggest referee Mark Halsey was unsighted for a split second as the challenge went in.

Newcastle, understandably, were not happy about the tackle and assistant coach John Carver confronted him at half-time, which turned into a scuffle and led to Carver being sent to the stands along with Wigan coach Graham Barrow.

Watch the awful challenge above.