“Worst thing about it was my daughter read the newspaper and got upset” - not the fact you nearly decapitated the poor bloke let alone concussion lol

It's hard not to get the impression that his regret is more borne out of the effect the incident had on him and his family as a consequence of his violence, rather than regret for the consequences that violence had on Mendes. Tough one. Would be interesting to hear Mendes' perspective, he was the victim in this incident.

Nothing Thatcher can say or do to excuse what happened that day. It was a dead ball going for a throw in and you took Mendes out on purpose. How you couldn't have known what you'd done is beyond belief. Utter disgrace!

The fact that he doesn't even use Pedro Medes' name and just calls him "the player" shows how much he doesn't care at all.

He knew exactly what he was doling.

How you were ever let near a playing field again is beyond me. Only sorry because of the grief you've been given and the fact you're kids might think you're nothing more than a thug. Well if they do I agree.

Sorry Ben but I do not believe you. You took him out like a coward and now your trying to dig yourself out of a rather ugly hole.

One of the worst. That "tackle" gives me shivers watching Mendes collapse straight down and slide straight along the grass.

He knew what he was doing, showed no concern or remorse right after and probably would've started something with Johnson if he wasn't ignored. Only semi remorseful because his children can apparently see this now. Brute. No part of the game needs players like this

Coward. Feels more sorry for himself & his family. Mendes thought about giving up football, but played on (was back within a couple of weeks or so - despite being knocked unconscious and having his cheekbone broken). But his heart went out of football really I think, and apart from a 'last hurrah' with Rangers & a later re-call to the Portugal team, I don't think he was the same player - he retired relatively early. 'Doesn't remember'? - does he remember shouting at the prostrate body of Pedro Mendes (I wander what is was? "get up you poof!" .. or "take that you ****" A real shame, as he (Pedro) is a genuine nice guy.

What proves to me he ment it is that after the contact instead of instantly realizing what he had done and looking to check how Mendes is doing, he starts blurting out something nasty (judging by his facial expression) at another Portsmouth player rushing to check on his teammate. His behavior in those first 5 seconds was the best marker of his intentions.

The commentators had a shocker for the Mendes incident. How you can't watch that and instantly call it out as a horrendous is beyond me. For the ref to give a yellow is mental, even for the time.

Piece of filth, should have been banned forever. He meant it and he knows it.

He should have been jailed for that assault on Mendes.. I remember that moment during the match and he was clearly with the intent to hurt. I mean just look at his reaction even after realising that Mendes was knocked inconscious! Thatcher is just another example of depravity in football next to Barton or Diouf

As a City fan i disowned him that day.

Guaranteed that if he'd never made it as a footballer he'd have had a few of these out on weekends or following a team, and that he would not have been remorseful afterwards if he thought there were no repercussions. If he's willing to do that on the pitch, in front of thousands and with cameras following the ball from all angles, he'd have done at least as bad when nobody's watching.

Ben Thatcher is as nasty as they come. Millwall & Crazy Gang says it all. The fact that he didn’t even remember what he did? He’s more sorry for himself than anyone else.

Should have phoned him to apologise. Should have apologised face to face. “Was it that bad?” Butter wouldn’t melt.

Commentators nonchalantly, "He's late….it's on the brink of a red"……YOU WHAT! Incredibly restrained. Commentators would be going apeshit now!

Horrible thug that achieved nothing in the game.

Forever a damning indictment on English Football that he was allowed to have a career in the game after doing what he did to Pedro Mendes. Pure scumbag. End of.

I go to Portugal a lot 😂 My mans half expecting to bump into Pedro Mendes in a country with about 10 million people.

What got me was the heartless look he gave after the hit plus the heartless look he gave the ref when he got the yellow card.

how you got away with that is mental

"Brink of a red, he's come through late"? Uwotm8?

Imagine your career only being remembered for this one incident.

I was here for that game vs Portsmouth. Horrible "tackle", knew instantly something horrible had happened. After watching the interview it does seem out of character from him, comes across well but that challenge will loom over him for years

What about the same thing he did to Summerbee at Sunderland?

Mendes took a powerful elbow to the face, which sent him flying head first into an advertising hoarding. It’s a miracle the guy even has brain function after that.

Knew exactly what he was doing, had his elbow all the way up at head height, some lads just want to enact their violent fantasies out on a pitch where they can get away with just a slap on the wrist

I was there, in the corner above where it happened. Even as a blue I have to say he definitely meant it.

he knew what he did

He fking knew, he had himself to blame. He should’ve been banned for life.

It's worse that he's former Millwall lol

its in the name

Dirty wrongen

Why did you give this thug the time of day even?

he should be in jail for what his did

A Slag

Well, just a human which will never be missed……

Great interview Chappy well done :)

"I've got children now".... So what? You have to have children to have empathy? Or you're upset because they can see one of the terrible things you did and change their opinion of you? It's not like it's the only time you did this, is it?

Will somebody please give that smug, rat faced, sweaty hunchback Robertson some of this treatment!!l

Damn! Never seen that shit before.

This guys a wrongen

I remember Thatcher elbowed Beckham when playing for Wales. Ultra violent.

Should have been banned for a foul like that . Awful

His young daughter ‘Margaret’ wasn’t impressed by this incident.

They’ve 100% cut some parts out of this interview. The bit about Pearce being the manager. He was a nasty piece of work in the exact same mould as Thatcher. After a poor first game of the season you can imagine exactly what Pearce was saying to him and I reckon that’s the main motivator for what happened.

So he didn't even think about it till he got home !?

"It's got to be on the brink of a red"

Every city fan looks like this guy 1:00

zero remorse toward the player or the incident, only the aftermath bothers him.

Cack footballer, good with his elbow though.

At first I thought he's honest but then I thought if he wouldn't have a wife and kids (or they wouldn't see it) he would probably gladly do it again to Mendes.

Guys only worried about himself, acted on the consequences and the backlash.

"Gotta be on the brink of a red". Christ.

How was he not sent off

No respect for Thatcher.

Loved Pedro at Rangers

so this is the homicidal maniac in the field.

Such little remorse. Even after all these years. Disgraceful

Deep inside u know its a shameful elbow

A 2 year jail sentence. Why ? He did not tackle him, he assaulted him on purpose. It was intentional.

Vicious bloke … vile challenge

Having to explain to his kids how useless he was at playing football, shoulda got done for GBH with that tackle, absolute waster.

I hate ben thatcher

Can't forgive the bloke for what he did to Mendes. All this "nice bloke really" doesn't wash with the majority out there

Mendes was acting that entire time

A thug plain and simple. A disgusting assault that should have resulted in criminal prosecution.

No excuse..you are brutal.u don't even care u kill him at that moment..that moment

Unnecessary slating of gingers!

Just shows your level of intelligence when you mention the victim last in your thoughts and your main concern is the whispers around your mummy in budgens and what your kids will hear. Well done, you should be proud of yourself!

Disgraceful

Weak attempt to get sympathy, terrible footballer, worst person.

All these sort of players all bully the weaker players - you never see them have a go at hard players - just another coward.

A cowards tackle. Thatcher should have been sent to prison. I was a 15 year old schoolboy training with Rochdale AFC back in the early 1980s - Les Chapman was player coach at that time. I remember Chappy well - I was his kit-boy (washed his training kit and polished his selection of boots). Les was a great player and as a coach, he encouraged the young players like myself to train hard and have fun. I'm surprised he gave this coward time to talk ... but then again it's all about views isn't it?

Thug

Happy anniversary to this incredible incident 15 years ago on this date August 23rd

Pure assault

Shithouse

criminal

당신같은 선수는 스포츠를 하면 안된다고 생각합니다. 팔꿈치로 고의적으로 가격을 해놓고 돌아서서 짜증만 내는 표정을 보고 있으니까... 이유 불문 잠재적 살인마에 가깝네요. 저 플레이로 멘데스는 사망했을 수도 있습니다.

Thank You Ben from a Wimbledon fan!

Pretentious Man City staging the interview for publicity!

Solid player at Millwall. Very out of character that tackle.

To be honest I have seen fellani do worse

Wimbledon legend. Have to admit though that this 'tackle' was even better than the one he did on Summerbee against Sunderland. Thatcher was a certifiable psycho; once that red mist descended upon him you knew he was going to hurt someone. Kimble was the better left back though, we really should've used Ben in the centre more.

He made a mistake you can see remorse….

As long as he regrets it, that's all that matters. He clearly shows concern for Mendes, although he probably should have attempted to contact him in person.

A yellow card for an attempted murder by decapitation. It's hard to understand the referee's decision not to send him off .

Thug