The Daily Populous Sunday January 26th, 2025 evening edition
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c-lace on January 26th, 2025 at 04:12 UTC »

“I think maybe, it’s like a dream for some people, you know, to sometimes kick these kinds of people. So I did it for them, so they are happy”

Yesssir 🫡

blueoncemoon on January 26th, 2025 at 04:14 UTC »

Video of the incident. iirc he said his one regret was that he wished he could have kicked even harder

Inter_Web_User on January 26th, 2025 at 07:59 UTC »

30 years ago yesterday

On 25 January 1995, Eric Cantona was involved in an incident that attracted headlines and controversy worldwide. In an away match against Crystal Palace, Cantona was sent off) by the referee) for kicking Palace defender Richard Shaw), after Shaw had frustrated Cantona throughout the game by closely marking him. As he was walking towards the tunnel, Cantona launched a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, directed at Palace supporter Matthew Simmons, who had run down 11 rows of stairs to confront and shout abuse at Cantona. Simmons was alleged to have used the words "Fuck off back to France, you French bastard". Cantona followed the kick with a series of punches.

Cantona's brief, much-publicised, statement "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much."

Cantona was faced with a criminal charge of assault, which he admitted to on 23 March, resulting in a two-week prison sentence, although he was freed on bail pending an appeal. This was overturned in the appeal court a week later and instead he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service, which was spent coaching children at United's training ground. The fan that Cantona kicked, Simmons, went on trial separately where he claimed that he only shouted "Off! Off! Off! It's an early bath for you, Mr Cantona!", but was found guilty of abusive behavior and handed a £500 fine and banned from the stadium for a year. Immediately after the verdict was proclaimed, Simmons then assaulted prosecutor Jeffrey McCann, for which he was sentenced to a week in jail, plus an additional £500 fine as well as £200 in legal costs.