Liverpool and Tottenham hero Jamie Redknapp was furious with Mason Holgate on Sunday.
The Sheffield United defender was sent off for a high and reckless challenge in their Premier League loss to Brighton.
While Holgate and his team were punished, Redknapp believes Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was lucky to not have a serious injury.
"It's an assault. It's one of the worst tackles I've seen in years," Redknapp told Sky Sports.
"Even in my era that would have been a scandalous tackle.
"How on earth Mitoma's managed to get his left leg out of the way, I've got no idea. Thank goodness he has, otherwise that's career-ending. His career would be finished.
"I feel so sorry for Chrissy Wilder in this instance, because his best-laid plans... he's said 'alright, let's not make any mistakes, let's not give anything away this first 10 minutes, and you have a player that does that. I've got no idea what he's thinking, but he's cost his team - they've got to run around, chase, try and get into a game, and obviously the [opening] goal's going to come from that, but a scandalous tackle."