5 instances when footballers clashed with fans

Manchester City’s Joe Hart comes in between a City fan and Rio Ferdinand"Football is about the supporters," said a rueful Guardiola after having to oversee his team play behind closed doors in a recently concluded champions league match against CSKA Moscow. While most games can be conducted in quiet and harmony, football is made special by the noise and nervous energy of the fans in the stadium. It is what makes the game a raw entity of passion, adds the beauty to the beautiful game. But this beautiful element has sometimes turned ugly resulting in spats between fans and players or coaches.Here are 5 instances when footballers clashed with the fans:

#1 Jack Wilshere (Arsenal against Manchester City)

Jack Wilshere flipping the bird at the Manchester City fans

Jack Wilshere has been in the limelight since a very young age. He had been molded to be a model professional, trained to deflect negative publicity and despite his brash attitude, taught to restrain himself from reacting to provocation. It was then a surprise to see him flip the bird at Manchester City fans in his side’s 6-3 defeat.

Arsenal were receiving a humbling at the hands of City when Wilshere turned to the home support and flicked his middle finger in their direction, in full view of the cameras to the bewilderment of fans. It was initially assumed that Wilshere was venting his frustration by reacting to the fans, but he later clarified it was a response to provocation from the terraces. City fans had resorted to abusing his children and Wilshere, father of two, didn't take kindly to the abuse.

Wilshere served a two match ban for his actions.

Wilshere explaining why he made the gesture

#2 Kevin-Prince Boateng (Milan against Pro Patria)

Kevin-Prince Boateng gestures towards the fans

Clashes between footballers and fans are often the by products of provocation from the fans and so it was also the case in the ugly incident between Kevin-Prince Boateng and fans of Italian fourth tier side Pro Patria.

AC Milan were preparing for the second half of the 2012-2013 season by playing a friendly against Pro Patria. Unfortunately, the match was marred by racist fans directing abuse in the direction of black Milan players. The players, referee and even the stadium announcer pleaded with the fans to stop, but to no avail. The match was brought to a halt in the 26th minute when, Boateng, frustrated by the racist chants, picked up the ball and kicked it in the direction of the fans.

Players of both teams walked off the pitch after the incident.

#3 Giuseppe Sculli (Genoa against Siena)

Guiseppe Sculli having his own personal discussion with the ultras

April 22nd, 2012 was a sad day in the history of Italian club, Genoa. The relegation threatened team were 4-0 down to a modest Siena team by half time when they had the misfortune of being threatened by the fans.

A gang of 80 ultras climbed atop the players' tunnel and demanded that the match be stopped. Flares were thrown onto the pitch and a sticky situation was thus given rise to. The ultras were offended by their team’s weak showing and claimed they were not fit to wear the shirt. They demanded the players strip off their shirts, in full public view, and hand it over.

"We want your socks, we want you in your underpants" was the cry from the terraces. The players were shell-shocked and some of them were in tears. Their captain, a shaken Marco Rossi, was tasked with collecting the shirts from the players. He did so, frightened and humiliated, all the while leading his players away from the group of troublemakers. It was a brazen show of power from the fans, many of whom were known mobsters.

In the commotion, as the captain led his players away; one player stayed behind. Giuseppe Sculli, enraged, walked over to the ultras and grabbed the leader by the scruff of his neck and refused to give his shirt saying, "I'm not taking it off, it's mine."

Sculli's bravado allowed the players to continue the match. The match ended 4-1 in Siena’s favour.

#4 Theo Walcott (Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur)

Theo Walcott making the 2-0 gesture to the Tottenham fans as he goes off injured

Arsenal's route to winning the FA Cup final will be, particularly, remembered for a feisty encounter with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The main talking point of the match came in the 83rd minute when Theo Walcott was being stretchered off the pitch.

Walcott, receiving treatment on his leg, in the away end was subjected to abuse by the Spurs' fans, but instead of reacting angrily like most of his counterparts, he decided to taunt them by gesticulating the score line.

This didn't sit well with the Spurs' fans. Aggrieved as they already were by their team losing, they pelted Walcott with coins, lighter and a bun among other things. Walcott reacted by smiling all the way, as he was carried off the pitch.

#5 Eric Cantona (Manchester United against Crystal Palace)

Eric Cantona launching himself into the crowd to kick out at the fan who insulted him

A discussion about Eric Cantona is not possible without mentioning his infamous kung-fu kick on a fan at Selhurt Park in 1995.

It was a drab affair at Selhurt Park. Goal scoring opportunities were far and few in between. Richard Shaw, seeing the frustration in Cantona, took the opportunity to hustle him all game long. Things came to a boiling point and the referee still didn't see it fit to book Shaw. Cantona, unable to stifle his anger anymore slyly kicked Shaw in the shins while jostling for the ball. Unfortunately for Cantona, this was noticed by the linesman and resulted in a rightful sending off.

Cantona had to walk. As he made his way to the dressing room, some unruly remarks by a particular fan caught his ear. What happened next can only be believed if seen:

Cantona was, later, suspended for nine months for that kick. That was the longest ban in the history of the Premier League.