Nelson Oliveira was left with nasty gashes to his forehead and nose

Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has sent an apology to Nelson Oliveira after leaving the Reading forward with gruesome facial injuries during the sides’ goalless draw at the Madejski Stadium.

Mings was making his Villa debut after completing a loan switch from Bournemouth and will have been pleased to play his part in a clean sheet away from home, but his performance was marred by an incident in the 73rd minute of the Championship clash.

The 25-year-old centre-back stamped on Oliveira’s head after a tussle for the ball and the Portuguese was forced off with deep gashes to his forehead and nose.



Reading’s medical staff treated Oliveira on the pitch and the striker, who was making only his second appearance for the Royals, was later taken to hospital. He is likely to undergo surgery and is expected to be on the sidelines for some time.


Incredibly, referee Geoff Eltringham missed the incident and Mings’ stamp went unpunished.

Mings was widely condemned across social media, with many referring to a previous incident when the defender stamped on Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s head during Bournemouth’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United back in 2017.

Oliveira was taken to hospital for further treatment (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)

‘Absolutely loved wearing the claret and blue today and over the moon with the clean sheet!’ Mings tweeted after the draw.

‘Feel awfully sorry to Oliveira, I hope he is ok.’

Absolutely loved wearing the claret and blue today and over the moon with the clean sheet! @AVFCOfficial Feel awfully sorry to Oliveira, I hope he is ok ❤️ #UTV pic.twitter.com/wCsa5ouNvW — Tyrone Mings (@OfficialTM_3) February 2, 2019

Reading boss Jose Gomes questioned the officials after Mings escaped without even a booking.

‘I didn’t see him [Oliveira] after the game,’ the Portuguese said at his post-match press conference.

‘It was a very strange decision also from the referee

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