Tevez escapes sanction after injuring rival player

Buenos Aires: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) will not sanction Boca Juniors forward Carlos Tevez for injurying Ezequiel Ham of Argentinos Juniors, a media report said.

"We are not going to sanction Tevez as we do not sanction any other player," Xinhua quoted president of AFA's Disciplinary Tribunal Fernando Mitjans in an interview with a local sports daily on Monday.

Tevez caused a serious open ankle fracture for Ham during an Argentine first division soccer match on Saturday.

"We equally judge a player from Almirante Brown, Flandria or Boca Juniors. We do not consider the team. But we do not accuse anybody ex officio because this is a very sensitive issue," he added.

Ham, 21, underwent a successful surgery on Saturday and will undergo a second surgery Wednesday. Afterwards, he will begin physical rehabilitation that will last at least six months, said Jose Artese, doctor of Argentinos Juniors.

Tevez said he did not injury his opponent on purpose.

"I went to chase the ball. I did not have bad intentions. I am sad, I did not mean to harm him. This is the first time I injured a player. I will visit him and will apologise," said Tevez at the end of the game.