Football's darkest moments: when players lost their cool on the pitch. Idrissa Gueye's infamous red card for slapping Michael Keane at Old Trafford has left many wondering - what other players have crossed the line in the heat of battle? In a shocking display of emotion, two of England's top-flight stars clashed during a heated match against each other.
One such instance that comes to mind is the 1978 FA Cup third round clash between Charlton and Maidstone. A simmering tension between strike pair Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan boiled over, with both players getting into a physical altercation on the pitch. The pair were sent off after a heated exchange, leaving their teams reeling.
Another notable example is the 1994-95 Hearts vs Raith Rovers pre-season friendly. Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg clashed after Gordon Dalziel almost scored against them. Levein was found guilty of throwing two punches at Hogg, with Hogg himself stating that he had broken his nose in the brawl.
Graeme Le Saux also got into a fight with David Batty during a Champions League match for Spartak Moscow and Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96. The incident went largely unnoticed by the referee at the time but highlights the intense nature of the game.
More recently, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer's infamous on-field brawl against Aston Villa in April 2005 showcased the darker side of football. Their teams were both relegated that season, making their encounter a perfect example of how even the best players can lose control on the pitch.
These incidents are not isolated cases; there have been many instances throughout history where players have let their emotions get the better of them. The question remains - what other dark moments lie in football's past?
In another context, we take a look at which teams have won the title despite having a negative goal difference. In 1985, Coritiba won the Brazilian league with a -2 goal difference, while POSCO Atoms achieved this feat in South Korea.
As for questions from our readers, one fan is wondering if there's an example of a country refusing to participate in the World Cup due to their qualifying position. Another queries whether any player has been shown a second yellow card for not leaving the pitch correctly after being substituted. Lastly, someone asks about interesting 'triple doubles' across attack or defense in football - can anyone provide an answer?
One such instance that comes to mind is the 1978 FA Cup third round clash between Charlton and Maidstone. A simmering tension between strike pair Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan boiled over, with both players getting into a physical altercation on the pitch. The pair were sent off after a heated exchange, leaving their teams reeling.
Another notable example is the 1994-95 Hearts vs Raith Rovers pre-season friendly. Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg clashed after Gordon Dalziel almost scored against them. Levein was found guilty of throwing two punches at Hogg, with Hogg himself stating that he had broken his nose in the brawl.
Graeme Le Saux also got into a fight with David Batty during a Champions League match for Spartak Moscow and Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96. The incident went largely unnoticed by the referee at the time but highlights the intense nature of the game.
More recently, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer's infamous on-field brawl against Aston Villa in April 2005 showcased the darker side of football. Their teams were both relegated that season, making their encounter a perfect example of how even the best players can lose control on the pitch.
These incidents are not isolated cases; there have been many instances throughout history where players have let their emotions get the better of them. The question remains - what other dark moments lie in football's past?
In another context, we take a look at which teams have won the title despite having a negative goal difference. In 1985, Coritiba won the Brazilian league with a -2 goal difference, while POSCO Atoms achieved this feat in South Korea.
As for questions from our readers, one fan is wondering if there's an example of a country refusing to participate in the World Cup due to their qualifying position. Another queries whether any player has been shown a second yellow card for not leaving the pitch correctly after being substituted. Lastly, someone asks about interesting 'triple doubles' across attack or defense in football - can anyone provide an answer?
I'm still trying to wrap my head around some of these old-school feuds. Like, Idrissa Gueye's red card was insane 
. But you know what's even crazier? The fact that there have been so many instances of players just losing it on the pitch 
. I mean, who needs referees when everyone's just going to knock each other out? 
The Charlton and Maidstone fight in '78 must've been wild 
. And can you imagine being a player back then, dealing with all that stress and emotion? It was like they were trying to get ejected from the game even before the game started 
.
. But hey, at least they're consistent, right? And omg, someone asked about second yellow cards after being substituted and I'm like... how did that even happen? 
It sounds like a total own goal on the player's part.
Like, if you could just score or defend in every single game, that'd be the life 
.
that's crazy! and then you have Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer's infamous brawl in 2005... what was going through their minds?! 
i mean idrissa guyeys red card at old trafford was insane but its not the only time players lost their cool like derek hales and mike flanagan getting sent off in that charlton vs maidstone game back in 78 was wild too 
? That was wild! Reminds me of when Graeme Le Saux and David Batty got into a fight back in '95. Talk about losing your cool... 
. And what's with all these fights breaking out between teammates and opponents? It's like players forget they're human beings too, not just footballers 
. I feel for the referees trying to keep everyone safe during those heated moments though 
. and then theres that time when Graeme Le Saux & David Batty went at each other in 1995-96... craig levein also got into a bit of trouble with 2 punches thrown 
. it's crazy how intense football can get sometimes! btw, have u seen this article on teams that won the league w/ a negative goal diff?