10 of the biggest fights on the football pitch

Modified Jan 05, 2017 14:24 GMT

NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND - APRIL 2 : Gareth Barry of Aston Villa pulls apart the fighting Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer of Newcastle during the FA Barclays Premiership match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James Park on April 2, 2005 in Newcastle, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) — Barry had to help separate Bowyer from Dyer

#2 Paolo Di Canio and the referee

Di Canio pushed the referee after being sent off (Image credit: Mirror)

Referees are often the target of most of the abuse hurled around in a pitch, but seldom actually face any consequences from the authorities if they take repeated bad decisions.

Di Canio decided to take matters into his own hands during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal in 1998. Once again, Patrick Viera was involved, getting fouled by Di Canio and then fouling him back in response and then getting fouled again.

(Video Courtesy: Prem.tv YouTube Channel)

Both men were shown red cards, but by this point in the match, Di Canio had lost all sense of calm. He proceeded to gouge Martin Keown’s eye, kicked everyone in sight and then shoved referee Paul Alcock to the ground.

The FA slapped a 11 match ban on the mad Italian and levied him a 10,000 pound fine.

Edited by Staff Editor