Aston Villa star Lucas Digne left shows off gruesome ankle gash horror injury after unleashing X-rated tirade at fourth official during Tottenham clash

The heated incident unfolded during the second half of Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback victory over Tottenham. Digne was left writhing in pain after Danso’s follow-through caught his ankle hard inside the box, but referee Simon Hooper waved play on despite Villa’s protests. Furious at the lack of punishment, Digne later erupted after being substituted, kicking a chair before directing an X-rated rant at fourth official Anthony Taylor.

The Frenchman beckoned Taylor to inspect his ankle, visibly furious that Danso had escaped a booking. While Spurs fans jeered his outburst, Digne’s passion reflected his frustration at what he believed was dangerous play ignored by the officials. His fiery reaction briefly overshadowed Villa’s crucial win, though few could question his commitment after the match.

After the full-time whistle, Digne took to Instagram to show fans exactly why he had been so enraged on the touchline. The Aston Villa star posted a photo of his ankle being treated by the medical team, revealing a deep, open gash that stretched across the top of his ankle. Captioning the image with the defiant line “No pain, no gain” and a crying-laughing emoji, Digne gave followers a glimpse of the grim aftermath of Danso’s challenge.

The post quickly went viral among Villa fans, who praised the defender’s toughness and willingness to play through the pain barrier. It wasn’t the first time Digne had done so this season, having previously continued after sustaining a head injury during Villa’s draw with Everton in September.

Look away now if you don't want to see Digne's injury...

Lucas Digne Instagram

Digne had already been crucial before the ugly challenge. The 32-year-old had set up Villa’s match-winning goal, showing remarkable composure to control a high pass from Matty Cash before feeding Emi Buendía, who fired home a superb strike to make it 2-1. That assist marked another strong outing in a season where Digne has been among Unai Emery’s most reliable performers.

The full-back won seven duels and all three of his aerial battles against Tottenham, underlining both his defensive and attacking value for Emery’s side. Villa had failed to overturn a deficit in 10 of their last 11 away defeats before this result, making the comeback even more significant.

Digne’s determination to continue despite his ankle injury summed up the resilience Emery’s side have shown this season, despite their horror start. With the win, the Villains rose up to 11th in the Premier League standings.

The Frenchman’s 2025-26 campaign so far reflects his role as one of Aston Villa’s most consistent and hard-working full-backs. Across all competitions for Villa he has featured in 10 matches, totalling 599 minutes on the pitch. While he has yet to find the net, Digne has contributed three assists, and picked up two yellow cards.

Looking back, his consistency has been a hallmark of his Villa career. In the 2024-25 season, he played 32 league matches, recording four assists and maintaining steady defensive metrics — including 64 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 93 clearances. The year before, Digne was at his most productive, playing 46 matches in all competitions, scoring twice and setting up six more. His Premier League campaign alone saw him deliver one goal and three assists across 33 games, cementing his reputation as a dependable modern full-back capable of balancing work rate and creativity.