Prior to Liverpool's Merseyside derby with Everton in April 1999, Toffee's supporters had taunted Reds striker Robbie Fowler, suggesting he had indulged in drug taking. Fowler would respond to the accusations in mocking fashion after netting against Everton, getting down on all fours and sniffing the touchline as though it were a line of cocaine. Gerard Houllier would attempt to cover for the forward, claiming the player had merely been pretending to eat grass, but the excuse wasn't taken seriously and Fowler was struck with a four-match ban by the FA and also fined £32,000. It remained until recently the most controversial goal celebration of the Premier League era.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
