10 Biggest Newcastle United Controversies In The Premier League Era

4. Bowyer And Dyer See Red For Fighting Each Other

Most players would repress their rage and resolve their differences in training. What happens in training, stays in training is the general rule of thumb. Bowyer and Dyer, infamously, couldn't contain their urge to tear strips out of each other in front of 52,000 Newcastle fans, not to mention the millions watching at home who sat mouths agape as the pair slugged it out. Losing 3-0 to Aston Villa at the time, the raised temperature inside St James' Park triggering a breach in self-discipline as an already agitated Bowyer took exception when Dyer didn't pass the ball to him. Cue the former Leeds midfielder, now at a vein popping stage of anger, rampaging across the pitch and accosting his team-mate before engaging in a foppish brawl culminating in Dyer shredding Bowyer's jersey. Serious schoolyard stuff. Both players were forced to deliver grovelling, albeit blatantly unrepentant, apologies with Dyer handed a timid three-match ban. Bowyer, on the other hand, shouldered the majority of blame for the scuffle and was banned for six games by the FA and fined £30,000, while the club docked him six weeks wages. The fact both were allowed to pull on a black and white shirt again suspended belief.