SHANGHAI Greenland Shenhua striker Demba Ba has decided to have surgery on his fractured leg in Shanghai, in the aftermath of the horror tackle he suffered during Sunday’s Chinese Super League derby against Shanghai SIPG, the Shanghai Daily reported.

    The decision was taken by the Senegal star and his family after consulting both Shanghai doctors and a French medical team. The surgery will take place Friday and will be undertaken by a French doctor who will arrive tomorrow.

    The 31-year-old forward broke his leg in a challenge from SIPG captain Sun Xiang during the second half of the game at Hongkou Football Stadium. He was rushed to Putuo District People’s Hospital. X-ray results showed that he had suffered tibia and fibula fracture in his left leg.

    Experts from Huashan and Changhai hospitals were brought in and Ba was given restoration treatment. Shenhua said the pain in Ba’s leg had eased by yesterday morning and he was in stable condition.

    Sun visited Ba at the hospital yesterday, along with SIPG general manager Sui Guoyang.

    “I had to come because he was injured after clashing with me,” Sun said after meeting Ba. “I feel guilty, so I came to apologize. Hope he recovers quickly. Physical contacts on the pitch are unavoidable. But it was definitely not deliberate.”

    Shenhua handed a letter to the Chinese Football Association Tuesday, accusing Sun of committing a “vicious foul” during Sunday’s match, which Shenhua won 2-1.

    “We urge the CSL’s disciplinary committee to review the match video and punish Sun and Cai Huikang for their actions,” said the letter.

    (SD-Agencies)