Balde defended after ‘disgraceful’ tackle

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan has defended Bobo Balde following his leg-breaking challenge on Leicester’s James Wesolowski, insisting what happened was an accident.

The 17-year-old Foxes midfielder underwent surgery yesterday and has had a pin inserted into his shattered leg following Balde’s challenge in Tuesday’s friendly at the Walkers Stadium.

Foxes boss Craig Levein branded the tackle “disgraceful, disgusting and malicious” but opposite number Strachan reckons there was no intent.