Ranking the 5 most controversial moments in Premier League history

#3 Luis Suarez biting Branislav Ivanovic

Suarez biting Ivanovic

When Chelsea played Liverpool in April of 2013, mercurial talent Luis Suarez made headlines for all the wrong reasons in a 2-2 draw. As the pair seemingly wrestled each other over a corner kick, Ivanovic went to the floor wildly gesticulating.

Television replays showed Luis Suarez shockingly taking a bite on his opponent's arm and neck, leaving incriminating bite marks for the world to see. In a the-VAR era, the referee Kevin Freind let Suarez stay on the pitch long enough for the Uruguayan talisman to bundle home a stoppage-time equaliser.

The FA later punished Suarez with a 10-match ban, which saw him miss the remainder of the 2012-13 season and the start of the 2013-14 campaign.

On this day, exactly two years ago, Luis Suárez decided to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini. 😬 pic.twitter.com/LesKHebPNk

— Football Tweet (@Football__Tweet) June 24, 2016

Shockingly this wasn't the first time Suarez was caught using his teeth during a game. He had previously been banned for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal’s shoulder in 2010. Even more remarkably, Suarez managed to get away with a third bite after he bit Giorgio Chiellini during a 2014 World Cup game against Italy. Cue the Jaws theme.

#2 Pizzagate

Headlines for Pizzagate

Manchester United vs Arsenal was one of the fiercest and most engaging rivalries of the 2000s in Premier League football. The two teams fought with pride over titles both on the pitch and off it.

In what has now been also dubbed "The Battle of the Buffet", Manchester United had ended Arsenal's 49-match unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory, with goals from Wayne Rooney and Van Nistelrooy in October of 2004.

The penalty awarded to Ruud Van Nistelrooy was a painful blow to Arsenal. The last time the two teams clashed, the Dutch Striker missed a penalty and was physically harassed by Martin Keown and the rest of the Arsenal defence.

With tempers flaring at the end of the game, the teams made their way back down the Old Trafford tunnel to their dressing rooms. Managers Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson were engaged in a furious verbal spat when food from the neighbouring buffet room was hurled all over the players and staff.

A slice of pizza was also thrown at Sir Alex Ferguson, by an unknown culprit who has since been identified as Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The FA dished out severe warnings to both teams for un-sportsmanlike behaviour and both sets of players were reprimanded for crossing the line of competitiveness.

#1 Eric Cantona’s fung fu Kick

Eric Cantona's kung fu kick

Easily the most shocking act of violence from a professional footballer was by one of the Premier League's greatest players, Eric Cantona. The Manchester United legend will always be remembered for his 'kung-fu' style kick on Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

Having already been sent off, Cantona was subject to verbal abuse from the Palace fan in question. Instead of retorting or walking away, Cantona responded with a shockingly agile studs-up kick that would make any martial arts expert proud. He followed it up with a wild punch.

Facing serious criminal assault charges, Cantona was fined around 30,000 pounds. He was also dropped from the French national team and banned from playing professional football for eight months.

On this day, 25 Jan 1995, Manchester United legend Eric Cantona flew into fascist football hooligan with a kung fu kick. Years later, #Cantona said "I wish I had hit him harder"#Antifa #FightBack #NazisOutOfFootball #SmashFascism pic.twitter.com/EEmZkOihLo

— Antifa Pinneberg (@AntifaPinneberg) January 25, 2021

The enigmatic Frenchman made the moment all the more memorable during a press conference. While accepting 120 hours of community service for his actions Cantona said, "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown in the sea." Make of this what you will!