A brief history of pre-season friendly violence
Given the perfect storm of the mid-July heat, a gruelling pre-season fitness regime, the pent-up irritation of being dragged on a commercially-motivated transcontinental tour and some general rustiness, it’s perhaps a surprise the taboo isn’t broken more often.
Getting yourself sent off in a pre-season friendly, it is generally accepted, takes some doing. Nevertheless, Sevilla defender Joris Gnagnon’s vicious, inexplicable swipe to the right knee of Liverpool youngster Yasser Larouci comfortably met the threshold.
“There were some disgraceful tackles,” said James Milner, a man who permanently gives the impression of someone who has already seen everything in football. “We know it was a friendly but you don't see many red cards in a friendly. If you want to foul, pull a shirt. Don't take a young lad by the knee. Seeing it again it is a disgrace.”
So accustomed are we to the stodgy pace, muted atmosphere and mass substitutions of these pre-season tune-ups, that any flashes of violence tend to look rather out of place.
Eric Cantona vs Rangers, 1994
Having only just entered the fray of the Ibrox International Challenge Trophy third-place playoff as a second-half substitute, Cantona - just months away from his spectacular Selhurst Park kung-fu moment of vigilante justice - found himself booked for dissent after walking away from the referee.
Shortly after that, a running battle with Rangers defender Steven Pressley culminated in a knee-high, two-footed lunge. Off a fuming Cantona went, and he was banned from Manchester United’s first three Premier League fixtures.
David Batty vs Sampdoria, 1992
The Makita International Tournament, the exotic forerunner to the Emirates Cup, attracted a clutch of Serie A’s finest clubs between 1988 and 1994, but its abiding memory remains David Batty systematically winding up half the Sampdoria side at Elland Road.
Leeds Utds David Batty stands his ground as Sampdoria striker Roberto Mancini grabs the Leeds Legend in 1992. pic.twitter.com/kgyX0tjQFv
— LEEDS UTD MEMORIES (@LUFCHistory) February 27, 2015
In a low-key, they-don’t-like-it-up-’em masterclass, Batty succeeded in provoking Roberto Mancini into such a huff that the result itself - a 1-0 win for Sampdoria - faded gently from memory.
Wayne Rooney vs Porto, 2006
“For the third time on foreign soil in less than 12 months, and just 34 days after his World Cup ended with a brainless red card against Portugal in Gelsenkirchen, Wayne Rooney's combustible temper resulted in another dismissal.”
The Telegraph’s match report from Manchester United’s Amsterdam Tournament encounter with Porto begins with a heavy sigh. Rooney had lasted just 41 minutes before catching future indiscipline expert Pepe with an elbow.
A clumsy Paul Scholes tackle from behind then left United with nine men, and both players began the 2006/07 season under suspension despite appeals to the FA.
Craig Levein vs Graeme Hogg, 1994
Pre-season seems as good a time as any to air any grievances with a team-mate, but Hearts colleagues Levein and Hogg took things to extremes in a friendly against Raith Rovers.
In 1994 vs #RaithRovers Levein & Hogg have a punch up. Hogg red carded whilst on strecher! http://t.co/B9p9TFd6pic.twitter.com/T2qma9GC
— London Hearts (@TheLondonHearts) July 14, 2012
Just before half time, the two clashed over a defensive error and - in what the Daily Record charmingly described as “a rammy” - came to blows. “Levein threw two haymakers which I can only describe as a superb effort that Mike Tyson would have been proud of”, recalled Raith striker Gordon Dalziel.
Hogg left the pitch on a stretcher, and the pair received a combined 22-match ban before the season had even begun.
West Ham vs Athletic Bilbao, 2000
If one player’s testimonial carried the inherent threat of a 17-man brawl, it was Julian “Terminator” Dicks. Guests/sacrificial lambs Athletic Bilbao came to Upton Park for the occasion - gifting Dicks an ashtray for his big send-off - and soon found themselves in a running battle.
A REMINDER:
This was the apt scene at Julian Dicks' Testimonial back in 2000.
Athletic Bilbao went on to beat West Ham 2-1, but not before a 17 man brawl after a couple of tasty tackles from Igor Stimac and Nigel Winterburn. pic.twitter.com/yapORylZVe— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) March 21, 2018
A Nigel Winterburn tackle sent Jesus Maria Lacruz into the advertising hoardings before referee Barry Knight firmly advised the substitutions of Paolo Di Canio and Joseba Etxeberria. Dicks eventually trotted on for a 25-minute cameo at the start of the second half which, to some surprise, passed without further incident.
Bilbao, for the record, won 2-1 and will revisit east London for a rematch next Saturday. Elbows at the ready.
