Hesselink may face criminal charges over foul
Rapid Vienna star Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink may face legal action over a foul in a Bundesliga match earlier this week.Ex-Austrian national team midfielder Stefan Lexa suffered a ripped collateral ligament and a partly torn cruciate ligament in a tackle by the Dutchman in SV Rieds 3-1 victory over Rapid on Wednesday.Ried prosecutor Alois Ebner told the Oberösterreichische Nachrichten newspaper today (Fri): “If the attack was carried out without the aim of winning the ball, it was a case of serious bodily harm.”The daily reports state prosecutors have started investigating the 31-year-old former Celtic Glasgow ace.Hesselink scored the first goal for his new club since joining the 32-time league champions last month.Rapid boss Peter Pacult controversially decided to order the striker to do an individual fitness programme with specialised coach Christian Canestrini while his teammates went down against FC Porto in the UEFA Europa League (0-3) last week.Pacult explained Hesselink was not in top form yet, adding he hoped he would be soon. “We need his skills,” he stressed.The Rapid coach admitted after the Europa League defeat that his team had been unable to fill the gap left by Nikica Jelavic. The Croat striker was sold to Scottish champions Glasgow Rangers days before Rapid snatched Hesselink.The Green-Whites, who suffered three defeats in a row in the Bundesliga, face struggling Kapfenberg tomorrow. The team of Werner Gregoritsch lost against leaders Wacker Innsbruck 2-4 last Wednesday.Wacker face fourth-placed Magna Wiener Neustadt, while title-holders Red Bull Salzburg who reached a goalless draw against Austria Vienna in the past round host Ried.Bottom lights SV Mattersburg will play against LASK Linz on Saturday, while Austria Vienna travel to Graz where they face 2009 ÖFB Cup winners Sturm on Sunday (live on ORF 1, kickoff: 4pm).The Austrian Bundesliga table after eight rounds:Wacker Innsbruck, 19SV Ried, 18 pointsSturm Graz, 16Magna Wiener Neustadt, 13Austria Vienna, 12Rapid Vienna, 9Kapfenberg, 8Red Bull Salzburg, 6LASK Linz, 4SV Mattersburg, 3