Video: Jozy Altidore’s Season-Ending Headbutt

It’s not quite the stunner that Zinedane Zidane delivered in the 2006 World Cup, but Jozy Altidore now has a regrettable headbutt on his record. Altidore ensured that he would miss the end of Hull City’s season by responding to Sunderland defender Alan Hutton throwing the ball at him after a contentious challenge with a shove and a headbutt, actions that earned him a straight red card and a three-game ban.

Since Hull City only has two games remaining, that means Altidore’s done for the year, and maybe for his Premier League career. Hull City sits third from the bottom of the table, and would need two losses by West Ham and more than a 20-goal swing in goal differential to avoid relegation. And the Tigers probably won’t be too keen on bringing back a forward with as many violent conduct ejections as Premier League goals.

They’re not the only team that might suddenly be worried about Altidore. The U.S. national team will already be without Charlie Davies in South Africa. It could ill afford to lose another talented striker, and must hope this was a spectacular and singular lapse in judgment for Altidore.

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