Top TEN: Controversial Premier League moments
Below Football FanCast brings you all the violence, tantrums and protests that makes this list the top ten most controversial moments in Premier League history.
10. Dyer/Bowyer bust-up- 2.4.05
Midfield duo Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer were both sent off after exchanging punches with one another, amazingly both playing for the same team. The dozy pair had a bust-up after Newcastle conceded the third goal in a 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in 2005.
Bowyer was fined six weeks wages and banned for seven games over the incident after admitting he had sparked the brawl after Dyer had refused to pass to him earlier in the game.
9. Fergie’s flying boot- 16.2.03
Sir Alex Ferguson launched into one of his infamous tirades after being knocked out of the FA Cup courtesy of a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal in 2003. Fergie then kicked a discarded boot in anger, unfortunately catching England superstar David Beckham above his left eye.
Beckham made little attempt to hide the scar on his way to training two days later, however Fergie dismissed the incident, claiming it was a ‘freak’ accident:
“If I’d tried it 100 times or a million times, it wouldn’t happen again. If it did, I would carry on playing.”
8. Diouf’s spitting shenanigans- 27.11.04
Senegalese international El Hadji Diouf failed to learn from his past mistakes after pleading guilty to spitting in the face of Portsmouth defender Arjan de Zeeuw in 2004. Diouf, previously found guilty for a similar incident involving a Celtic fan while playing for Liverpool, was banned for three games and ordered by manager Sam Allardyce to see a sports psychologist.
The attacker later apologised for the incident, saying:
“My behaviour showed a lack of moral responsibility to the public who support me and I’m deeply sorry.”
7. Gallas’ sit-down protest- 23.2.08
After French youngster Gael Clichy conceded an injury-time penalty which was converted by James McFadden for Birmingham in February 2008, Arsenal captain William Gallas sat down at the other end of the pitch, refusing to move.
The resulting goal cost Arsenal a win and left them six points off the top of the table. The former Chelsea player remained on the pitch long after all his team-mates had headed to the dressing room. and was heavily criticised for his actions after the game. He was finally coaxed off the pitch by his manager Arsene Wenger. Not the actions you would normally associate with an Arsenal captain.
6. Robbie Fowler’s white line celebration- 3.4.99
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler caused outrage with his goal celebration in 1999 after equalising from the penalty spot against rivals Everton. Falsely accused by Everton fans of drug use, forward Fowler knelt down and used the white line of the penalty area to pretend to sniff cocaine.
Despite manager Gerard Houllier claiming it was an African grass-eating celebration he learnt from team-mate Rigobert Song, the ‘Toxteth Terror’ received a four-match ban for the incident.
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Interesting list Mark. Keane’s tackle was an absolute shocker
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Excellent. I cannot believe Houllier’s excuse for Fowlers celebration! Classic
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The authorities should have taken serious action against Keane and Cantona. Such behaviour in inexcusable under any circumstances. Well, maybe at war it may be within the legit means. Those two men should have been banned from getting within half a mile of any football pitch anywhere.
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anteater let me guess a city fan?? ben thatchers elbow should be close to this list, but good article
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no mention of Rooney’s dive………
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Should mention the time Di Canio caught a cross and conceded a freekick rather than score into an empty goal after Everton keeper Paul Gerrard went down injured.
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Yeha, Thatcher’s elbow should have been on there. However, anteater has a point on Cantona’s and Keane’s challenges. It isn’t just stupid, it is wrong. Wrong on various levels.
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Hey guys. Thatcher’s elbow definitely warrants a place in the list. Thanks for the comments
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