Non league player suffers displaced facial fractures and needs surgery after sickening challenge

Non league player Joe Tennent suffers displaced facial fractures and needs surgery after a sickening challenge at the weekend.

Dartford have released footage of the moment which took place in their 3-0 derby day defeat to Welling in the Isthmian League Premier Division on Saturday afternoon.

The clip has since gone viral, getting nearly 4 million views and thousands of likes on their social media.

Dartford said in their match report: “Nahum Melvin-Lambert received a yellow card for an awful challenge on Joe Tennent, which resulted in the Dartford defender having to go off to be replaced by Tyler Ibe (41).”

Dartford have since given an update on Joe Tennent, saying: “Joe sustained displaced facial fractures and will undergo cheekbone reconstruction surgery on Wednesday.

“We wish Joe and his family our very best and a speedy recovery. 🙏💙

“The club will explore official channels following the incident.”

🚨 Update on Joe Tennent: Joe sustained displaced facial fractures and will undergo cheekbone reconstruction surgery on Wednesday.

We wish Joe and his family our very best and a speedy recovery. 🙏💙

The club will explore official channels following the incident. pic.twitter.com/GbtfxcfJEU

— Dartford FC (@dartfordfc) August 23, 2026

… https://t.co/aIKtRq5jfP

— Dartford FC (@dartfordfc) August 23, 2026

Dartford boss Ben Greenhalgh said in his post match reaction: “I think a really big, key part of today was losing Joe Tennent…. it was a derby game so we knew there were going to be moments.

“I can’t blame the ref for the game. That has changed it but our second-half performance was really poor.

“We lost Joe and I’m not saying we capitulated, but we went a bit off-script.

“I am disappointed to lose Joe in that manner. I don’t know how it works from here onwards.

“It didn’t seem like a concussion from what we’re told, but it’s a possible broken jaw that doesn’t sound good at all and yeah that is tough to take.”

He added: “I’m being honest, the ref wasn’t looking, the ref was running the other way [expecting the ball to be sent up field], because he was next to me.

Interviewer: Linesman’s got to help him out there though.”

Ben replied: “I think people have got to help him out. It’s more just look when if you look if if if they haven’t meant it and haven’t touched him, but at the end of the day if a player’s coming off a broken jaw, there’s not much to be said.”

 

@DoverAthletic wrote: “All the best, JT! @JoeTennent1 🖤🤍 #DAFC | ⚪⚫️”

Long Lane (@LL1sts) wrote: “One of our former youth section coaches and brother of one of the men’s first team player was on the end of an absolutely horrific challenge yesterday.

“Hopefully Welling and the League do something about this.

“Speedy Recovery JT ❤️”

Here’s how fans reacted after a non league player suffers displaced facial fractures and needs surgery after the sickening challenge…

@DFC1888171874: wishing joe a swift recovery. i’ve seen some bad decisions before and this might have been one of the worst, how’s the ref missed that.

@FinchyRiley: @IsthmianLeague this is what happens when referees fail to protect the players. Shameful

@callen_jos57486: Surely the yellow can be upgraded for that?

@ThomasCarlse: We’re currently in a legal battle over the tackle I endured and sadly, the law doesn’t sit on the side of the victim and instead, protects the person who inflicted the injury and so people go unpunished and the game carries on. Football pitches seem to be the only place where it’s almost accepted or joked about when things like this happen. This lad now faces potential life changes injuries because of this and what will happen to the player who made the tackle? How can someone go for the ball with their feet but fracture someone’s cheekbone?

@RhysJBE: Gutted for JT wishing you a successful surgery and speedy recovery. @JoeTennent1 everyone is behind you.

@toptargets: Sorry but its just a really stupid and unnecessary challenge that you can’t defend. Said what I think of the challenge but the reality is the ref would be 30-40 yards away because they are playing out from the back and doubt any ref would have been that close to the incident because more often than not its being played up the pitch. Horrible tho.

@WightmanGeoff: I was at the match yesterday. A very grim moment. Looks worse each time you see it and I suspect we have not heard the last of it.

@PhilVeasey1: Defies belief that the referee didn’t see this as a red card! I imagine that the yellow card received will be the least of the repercussions for this terrible challenge.