10 Most Controversial Premier League Moments
1. Eric Cantona Was Kung-Fu Fighting
Long before the larger-than-life personality of Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived in Manchester, it was King Eric Cantona who ruled the Old Trafford roost.
Cantona was a law unto himself and he refused to take crap from anyone, which was best illustrated by his actions at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park on a cold January evening.
The Manchester United maestro had been sent off for reacting to marker Richard Shaw’s persistent provocation. As the mercurial forward made his way off the pitch, Palace fan Matthew Simmons bounded down the stand simply to hurl insults.
Cantona claimed there were racist connotations and abuse of his mother included in Simmons’ words, but the supporter in question denied using such language. No matter, the Frenchman launched a stinging attack, as he leapt over the advertising hoardings with a flying kick reminiscent of a Bruce Lee movie.
Simmons left with stud marks on his chest and bruised machismo, but King Eric came off worst with a nine-month FA ban, the loss of his national team place and a two-week jail sentence that was reduced to 120 hours of community service on appeal.
At least the world got to witness one of the weirdest press conferences ever as a result, when Cantona produced his priceless quote concerning seagulls following a trawler for sardines.
Lacking his
considerable influence, United lost out on the 1994-95 championship to
cash-rich Blackburn Rovers.