10 Controversies & Scandals That Rocked Liverpool
3. Robbie Fowler's Cocaine Celebration
One of the most controversial incidents to surround Liverpool football club came in another Merseyside derby with Everton in April 1999. In the build-up to the clash, Toffees supporters had taunted Reds striker Robbie Fowler over unfounded allegations of drug taking, while the England international had earlier gone public at the time to strongly deny the accusations.
Following the taunts, however, Fowler snapped, and would infamously respond to the claims in mocking fashion after netting against Everton, getting down on all fours and sniffing the touchline as though it were a line of cocaine. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier would attempt to cover for the forward, claiming the player had merely been pretending to eat grass, but the excuse wasnt taken seriously and Fowler was struck with a four-match ban by the FA and also fined £32,000.
In addition to that, Merseyside police opened an investigation into Fowler's actions after a complaint from a member of the public. The striker later apologised for his controversial goal celebration, saying: "I have been greatly distressed and hurt over the last few years by the constant allegations levelled against me regarding drug use, which have not only affected me but have been very upsetting to my family as well.
"But as an international player and a public figure, I have responsibilities and a duty to rise above such scurrilous accusations and I accept that my behaviour was totally wrong."