5 Crazy Football Fights

The best five crazy football fights are exactly the reason that you decide to watch the sport of football–or, soccer, to Americans–when you can. These football fights are fun to watch because they are oftentimes melees involving many players and their abnormally passionate/fanatical fans, too! Crazy football fights are good reminders to everyone that alcohol should be consumed in moderation and that passions should remain on the cool side.

1. Eric Cantona Kung-Fu Kick. The football fight that involved Manchester United's Eric Cantona during a game with Crystal Palace from 1995 takes the top spot because of Cantona's assaulting, dangerous and stunning antics. After Cantona was penalized with a red card, he had to be held back from going after the referee, but it was when he attacked football fan Matt Simmonds (who allegedly only insulted his mother!) with a flying roundhouse kick and followed that up with a punch that this became truly the craziest football fight ever.
2. Lee Bowyer Attacks Own Teammate. You've heard of football players fighting opposing teams' members, but have you ever heard of two teammates fighting...each other? Newcastle's Lee Bowyer's attack on Kieron Dyer in mid-pitch in April 2005 during a match against Aston Villa takes the second spot because of how unexpected and humiliating it was. Both players had to apologize to fans during a post-fight press conference, and Bowyer himself got in trouble with the local police for the incident.
3. Roy Keane Retaliation on Alfie Haaland. Roy Keane, in a match between Manchester United and Manchester City in April 2001, tackled opposing player Alfie Haaland high above his right knee, sending him sprawling to the ground and out of action for a time. He was sent off with a red card, but in his autobiography published after the event, Keane admitted to tackling Haaland this way to get revenge on him for an incident of taunting that happened four years earlier.
4. Dave Mackay Versus Billy Bremner. As far as crazy football fights go, this one is a classic from 1966. During a match between Tottenham and Leeds, Dave Mackay returned to football after suffering a break on a leg he already broke once. Opposing player Billy Bremner tackled Mackay, and to some, it appeared like he was going for Mackay's bad leg. Mackay then grabbed Bremner's shirt as if to punch him, but the referee stepped in and calmed things down.
5. Italy Against Chile In The World Cup. Another classic game from 1962, featuring Italy and Chile, was poisoned by fights and hostilities all around! At the eight minute mark, Italy's Giorgio Ferrini had to be forcibly taken off the field by cops after refusing to leave after a red card. Then, Chile's Leonel Sanchez and Italy's Mario David began punching and kicking one another. After that, Italy's Humberto Maschio was assaulted by Chile's Eladio Rojas while still on the field.