Player Injured by Hristo Stoitchkov in 2003 seeking $10 million in Damages

By: Bob | February 27th, 2007

It was supposed to be a mere friendly between an MLS team and a local college team. The type of a game both sides use to get in shape before the season. It turned out to be a nightmare match for American University freshman Freddy Llerana and now, four years later, he is suing Bulgarian legend and current nation team coach Hristo Stoitchkov.

In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, Llerana is seeking $10 million - $5 million in punitive damages from Stoitchkov and $5 million from DC United, its former investors and MLS.

Llerena alleges that Stoitchkov’s tackle, which left him with a compound fracture of his right leg and other injuries, was the result of negligence and reckless misconduct.

The lawsuit claims that Llerena, a freshman at the time who returned to play for AU before leaving the team his senior year, suffered physical and psychological injuries, including a leg disability; incurred considerable medical expenses; and has been unable to play at his “pre-accident level.”

The tackle, which fortunately is nowhere to be found on YouTube, is a thing of legend around the United States soccersphere. I remember reading an account from a spectator at the time who described it as sounding like a tree breaking in half. It was that gruesome. The Washington Post’s Steven Goff was at the match and describes it this way:

The incident occurred about 10 minutes into a scrimmage at AU’s Reeves Field in March 2003, during the Eagles’ offseason and a few weeks before United’s season opener. Llerena was preparing to take possession of the ball at midfield when Stoitchkov approached on the run and, in an apparent attempt to disrupt play, slammed his left foot into Llerena’s right leg, which, according to the lawsuit, was planted on the field. Stoitchkov — who, according to the lawsuit, was angry that game officials did not disallow an AU goal moments before the tackle on Llerena — was assessed a red card. Both coaches agreed to suspend the game. Llerena was removed by ambulance and, later that day, had a four-inch metal plate inserted in his leg.

It is tough to feel much sympathy towards Stoitchkov whose prodigious talent was only matched by his volatile temper. It is also tough not to feel sympathy towards a young kid whose playing career and life were turned upside down thanks to a violent tackle. On character issues alone the man known as the Bulgarian Madman could be found guilty, but that isn’t how the legal system is supposed to work.

Instead, the issue really becomes to what extent is a player held liable for causing bodily harm on the pitch? If Stoitchkov had smashed Llerana’s leg in half at a pub he would likely face jail time. But this occurred on an athletic field where the risk of injury is always present whether that injury occurs from an intentional foul or not. It might have been a meaningless friendly but even with that being the case Llerana assumed some risk when he stepped onto the pitch.

I can’t pretend to be an expert on the law, but I do find the issue fascinating. My guess is that this will be settled out of court for considerably less than $10 million, but I kind of hope it goes to trial to see how the legal minds argue both sides of the case.

What do you think? If a player is deliberately hurt on an athletic field should he be compensated?