Scene of carnage: Carlo Cudicini's BMW superbike
lies mangled on a London road as police survey the scene and an air
ambulance stands by
Serious: The accident forced the closure of Forest
Road
Wreckage: Motorcycle of Carlo Cudicini is loaded
onto a recovery truck
'Write off': The female driver and a child
passenger walked away from the car
Spurs
keeper Carlo Cudicini is fighting to save his career after
a motorbike smash left him with broken wrists and a damaged
pelvis.
Cudicini suffered the injuries, which the London Ambulance
Service described as 'possibly life-changing', after crashing his
BMW superbike into a Ford Fiesta on Forest Road, Walthamstow, East
London at 10.30am yesterday.
By riding a motorbike Cudicini is in breach of his
contract, meaning technically Spurs would be within their rights to
sack him. Clauses agreed with the Premier League, the Football
Association and the Professional Footballers' Association forbid
players from engaging in activities which could endanger their
careers such as skiing or riding a motorbike.
While Tottenham insist they are only concerned with Cudicini's
welfare, there could be problems further down the line regarding
the insurance for a player who is understood to earn in the region
of £50,000-a-week.
Cudicini was understood to be on his way to Tottenham's training
ground near Chigwell, Essex, when the accident occurred, although
manager Harry Redknapp was said to be unaware his keeper rode a
motorbike.
The fact that he chose to ride a motorbike to training is even
more perplexing given he had been undergoing treatment for a back
injury and had not even been on Tottenham's bench since the home
defeat by Stoke almost three weeks ago.
Redknapp, who is on a break in Dubai, said: 'We are all sorry to
hear about what happened to Carlo.
'We are just relieved that the injuries he sustained
were not more serious. Everyone at the club sends their best wishes
and we hope that he recovers soon.' The female driver of the Fiesta
and a child passenger walked away from the car, which was described
as a write-off, and did not need hospital treatment.
The Italian was taken to Whipps Cross hospital where he was
visited by club medical staff and has since been transferred to a
private clinic where his condition was described as 'stable'.
The seriousness of the accident raises questions as to whether
the 36-year-old goalkeeper will play again. Even if he can resume
his career after months of rehabilitation, it his unlikely he will
return to action this season.
Cudicini signed for Tottenham from Chelsea on a free transfer in
January, having spent the latter part of his career on the bench at
Stamford Bridge. But he has made just 11 league appearances for
Spurs after failing to dislodge Heurelho Gomes.
His chances of extending his contract which runs out at the end
of the current campaign had already looked slim, Redknapp having
attempted a swap deal for Portsmouth's David James in the
summer.
Tottenham have not yet considered whether to appeal for special
dispensation to sign a keeper outside the transfer window.
But given that as well as Cudicini and Gomes, they have Jimmy
Walker, Ben Alnwick, David Button and Oscar Jansson on their books,
it is debatable whether a request would be granted.
Spurs goalkeeping coach Tony Parks has backed Cudicini to battle
his way back to fitness. He said: 'Your first thought is, "Thank
Christ he is still alive".
'I'm not a medical person, so I'm not qualified to speak about
the injuries Carlo has suffered but I'm thankful it is not as
serious as it could have been. Hopefully he can get through this
and make a comeback. There's no doubt he will be up for the
fight.'
