Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye made headlines for all the wrong reasons at Old Trafford on Monday night when he was sent off for violent conduct against his own teammate.
A swinging arm that struck teammate Michael Keane in the face stunned onlookers and sparked renewed interest in some of football’s most notorious intra-team clashes.
Here we revisit three of the most infamous bust-ups:
Lee Bowyer v Kieron Dyer (2005)
The Premier League’s most famous fight between teammates came when the Newcastle duo stopped in open play and started trading punches. No one could quite believe what they were seeing – two teammates slugging it like prized fighters in the boxing ring. Opposing captain Gareth Barry had to step in to separate the two. Already down to 10 men and trailing 3-0 against Villa, both men saw red.
Who won? Hard to see but each copped bans – Dyer a three-match ban, while Bowyer was made to sit out seven matches. No doubt Newcastle management did not look kindly on their antics and docked them serious wages.
David Batty v Graeme Le Saux (1995)
This took place in a Champions League tie in Moscow, barely four minutes in, and with the game still goalless. The Blackburn Rovers and England teammates clattered into each other going for the ball which was running into touch. The pair first traded insults, then shoves, before Le Saux let rip with a left hook. Blackburn skipper Tim Sherwood raced to intervene just as Le Saux was winding up again, the fullback instead catching his captain. Le Saux broke his hand in the altercation. Remarkably, neither player received a card of any colour, and continued hurling abuse at each other across the pitch. Blackburn went on to lose 3-0 and crash out of the competition.
Bruce Grobbelaar v Steve McManaman (1993)
Merseyside derbies are intense and filled with fury and emotion as the blue and red side of Liverpool clash. During this 1993 derby at Goodison Park – the 149th league meeting between the bitter rivals – the veteran Liverpool keeper lost his rag and grabbed and shoved the young winger after his sloppy clearance from a corner led to an Everton goal. A furious Grobbelaar shoved the youngster, which sparked a retaliation. From there, it escalated as the teammates grabbed each others’ faces, before McManaman did the sensible thing and walked away. Everton won this one 2-0.
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