Petr Cech's Injury

On 14 October 2006 Čech and Reading's Stephen Hunt challenged for the ball in the first minute of a league game at the Madejski Stadium, resulting in Čech's head colliding with Hunt's knee and leaving the former concussed. After immediate replacement by Carlo Cudicini (who also sustained injury during the game), Čech was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital's Accident and Emergency unit, and that evening taken to Oxford's Radcliffe Infirmary's specialist neuro-surgical unit[4]. Čech then underwent surgery for a depressed fracture of the skull[4][5]. According to his father, he could be out of football for a year[6].

Chelsea boss José Mourinho said "the challenge [was] a disgrace. He is lucky to still be alive." Chelsea said in a later statement: "Chelsea FC has reviewed the video of both incidents. We endorse the post-match comments of José Mourinho regarding the seriousness of these incidents."