LONDON – Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick.
“Eric had a fuse on him. There is no doubt about that. Ultimately he exploded…” (former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister)
“People have said this is the most famous common assault case in the history of the English legal system” former United director and solicitor Maurice Watkins said.
Twenty years on, the kung-fu kick former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona launched at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, moments after being sent off at Selhurst Park, still resonates as one of sport’s most extraordinary events, even by the standards of football’s melodramas.
The Frenchman was already an icon at Old Trafford after inspiring them to successive league titles, the first ending a barren run of 26 years, after his arrival from Leeds in November 1992. This retaliatory act of violence, which he never attempted to defend, merely added to his legend.
In a special show broadcast on Thursday, 22 January, BBC Radio 5 live explored in detail arguably the most shocking episode in Premier League history.
Former United players Gary Pallister and David May, then club director and solicitor Maurice Watkins, former United head of security ‘Ned’ Kelly, ex-Palace manager Alan Smith and Palace supporter Cathy Churchman recount the story of the infamous incident, the subsequent court appearances, and Cantona’s celebrated “seagulls” quote.
A figure of hate… wearing black, 25 January, 1995.
Defending champions United travel to south-east London in second place, two points behind leaders Blackburn, who they had beaten 1-0 at Old Trafford three days earlier with Cantona scoring the winner. Victory at lowly Palace would return United to the top of the league.
Pallister: “Eric was always the number one target for supporters around the country. It wasn’t just players who tried to wind him up but fans felt as though they could do it as well. Some of the abuse he got was terrible. Eventually it took its toll on him I think and it all came to a head that night. He was such a hate figure because he was such a good player.”
Smith: “What distinctly hit me was that they played in all black that night. None of them had shaved and they looked a pretty ferocious team. I was thinking ‘this is going to be a long evening’.”
Palace centre-back Richard Shaw is given the job of man-marking Cantona.
Smith: “Shawsie had this sort of bubbly, curly hair. He put a load of grease on. He used to put a lot of vaseline around his face and mouth. He was the most charming, gentle guy you could ever meet but he looked pretty ferocious on the field. I think he was really up for marking Cantona.”
Cantona is the subject of a series of hefty challenges, from Shaw in particular.
Smith: “If you want to say ‘gave him one’, Shawsie certainly went in. I don’t have a lot of sympathy with Cantona. He is a big man, carries himself well, and he had given a fair amount out. Shawsie just thought ‘it’s on the halfway line, it’s in front of the dug-out – I’ll go for it’.
Then United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (writing in his autobiography Managing My Life): ” Alan Wilkie’s inability to stamp out the disgraceful tackles from Crystal Palace’s two central defenders made subsequent trouble unavoidable.”
“There was this look… His eyes were seething.”
In the 48th minute, Shaw comes into contact with Cantona as he chases a punt from keeper Peter Schmeichel and the Frenchman retaliates with a petulant kick. He is red carded and walks off down the side of the pitch, with United kitman Norman Davies escorting him towards the dressing rooms.
Churchman: “All of a sudden he turned and looked back; I thought he was looking at me. I had no idea where this other guy had suddenly appeared from. There was this look on Cantona’s face. His eyes were seething. You just knew at that point he was going to do something silly.”
Continues next week.
