March 30, 2017

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Fifa has opened proceedings against Wales full-back Neil Taylor after his leg-breaking challenge on the Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman.

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The Everton defender, 28, was taken off on a stretcher after the tackle, for which Taylor was sent off, during Friday's World Cup qualifier in Dublin.

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Coleman was taken to hospital and required surgery on a double break.

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Taylor, 28, will be suspended for the qualifier in Serbia in June, but could have his one-game ban extended by Fifa.

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Wales captain Ashley Williams said Taylor wanted to visit Coleman in hospital, and sent him a text message from the Aviva Stadium.

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"Neil was gutted. He was sitting on the floor virtually in tears," he told the Everton website.

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"Even people who don't know Seamus like I do were gutted.

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"He asked me to check if it would be OK to go to see Seamus in hospital. He got his number off me and sent him a text straight away.

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"When I found out it was a broken leg it made me feel sick inside because it's someone who I like so much and is one of my mates."

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Taylor began his professional career at Wrexham before moving to Swansea in 2010, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League in 2011.

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The left-back moved to Championship club Aston Villa in January.

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BBC