Three decades to the day have gone by since Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park – but, it seems, the intervening years have not served to mellow the Frenchman’s outlook on that January night in 1995.
Why did Cantona kick the fan?
Having been sent off for lashing out at Palace defender Richard Shaw as the sides played out a 1-1 Premier League draw, the Manchester United attacker was trudging back to the dressing rooms when home fan Matthew Simmons allegedly shouted at him: “F**k off back to France”.
Cantona responded by launching himself feet first at Simmons in a skirmish that also saw punches thrown. Let’s remind ourselves of that moment.
In the wake of the incident, the United star was fined and eventually banned for nine months, as well as being sentenced to 120 hours’ community service.
But speaking to the magazine FourFourTwo as part of an interview in which he answered readers’ questions, Cantona remained unrepentant. “I didn’t punch him strong enough,” declared the 49-year-old. “I should have punched him harder.”
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It has been 30 years since one of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history: the kung-fu fan attack involving Eric Cantona and a Crystal Palace supporter. The incident occurred on January 25, 1995, during a match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
In the 48th minute of the match, Cantona was sent off for a foul on Crystal Palace defender Richard Shaw. As he made his way off the pitch, a Palace supporter, Matthew Simmons, shouted abuse at Cantona. In a shocking turn of events, Cantona launched himself over the advertising hoardings and delivered a kung-fu kick to Simmons before punching him multiple times.
The incident sparked outrage and led to Cantona being banned from football for eight months and sentenced to 120 hours of community service. But what was perhaps even more surprising was the reaction from some fans and pundits.
While most condemned Cantona’s actions, there were some who praised him for standing up to the abuse he had received. Some even went as far as to defend his actions, arguing that Simmons had provoked Cantona and deserved what he got.
Looking back on the incident 30 years later, it serves as a reminder of the passion and intensity of football, as well as the sometimes surprising reactions it can elicit. Cantona’s kung-fu fan attack will forever be etched in Premier League history, a moment that continues to divide opinion to this day.
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- Premier League fan attack
- Kung-fu fan incident
- 30 years anniversary
- Infamous fan attack
- Surprising reaction
- Premier League history
- Football violence
- Fan behavior
- Football hooliganism
- Football fan altercation
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