Time for numbers 40-31 of the Top 50 Most Shocking Moments in Premier League History!
30. Prutton loses control
February 26, 2005
Southhampton’s David Prutton received a red card for tackling
opposition player, Robert Pires. He was ordered to leave the field, but did not
leave which made things a lot worse. Referee Alan Wiley proceeded to step
forward to control the raging Prutton but was pushed aside. He was stopped by
his cool-headed manager, Harry Redknapp, but also received a 10-game ban with a
£6,000 fine. For one who keeps control of where the ball goes, loses it in his
temper.
29. Fluffing
October 22, 2005
A well-devised plan for a penalty from two of the Premier
League's best players: what could go wrong? A lot, it seemed.
Robert Pires had already given Arsenal the lead from the
spot against Manchester City when the Gunners won a second penalty and the
chance to double their lead. But Pires attempted to tap the ball forward,
leaving the goalkeeper and defending player confused. It also allowed Thierry
Henry to slot into the net.
Fortunately for Arsenal, Pires and Henry, they could laugh
about it later after holding on for the 1-0 win, brushing off the disrespect
they shown to their opponents.
28. 38-second final flourish
March 22, 2015
Steven Gerrard's last acts as a Liverpool player certainly
won't be forgotten in a hurry. He was the game-changer as he made a goal to
Manchester in the biggest game of the season.
He certainly changed the game, but it was only to swing it
further in United's favour. In 38 seconds after entering the field, Liverpool's
iconic No 8 left his boot in on Ander Herrera and was shown the red card by
referee Martin Atkinson.
After losing probably the team’s MVP, Liverpool have lost
the match, hanging their Championship qualification by a thread.
27. The fake footballer
November 23, 1996
In Ali Dia's had his 'cousin' George Weah play to win a
chance in the Premier League.
Saints boss Graeme Souness took a call from the former World
Player of the Year recommending his cousin, a 13-cap, 30-year-old Senegal
international who had played for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain during his
career. Souness took the opportunity and signed Dia up on an initial one-month
contract. Two small problems: it wasn't Weah that called him and Dia was just
your average university student in Portsmouth.
Named on the bench for a home game against Leeds United, Dia
made his Premier League bow after Matt Le Tissier was taken off injured 33
minutes into the game. 52 minutes later, he was being brought down again.
Soon, Weah confirmed that it was not him who called and he
had no idea who Dia was. Southampton cut their ties with the player just 14
days into his contract – but he did live the dream of becoming a Premier League
player, and even managed a shot on target during his one appearance. Dia went
on to play for non-League games.
26. Captain takes a seat mid-game
February 23, 2008
The greatest captains are at their best when they lead their
teams out of the darkest moments to find their top form again. Sadly for
Arsenal, William Gallas was not one of these ‘great captains’.
After facing a tough match against Birmingham with a striker
already carried off with a broken leg and McFadden netted a late disputed
penalty, Gallas brought Stuart Parnaby down – and the Arsenal captain was far
from impressed. After kicking an advertising hoarding in frustration, Gallas
refused to line up on the edge of the penalty area for the spot-kick and instead
stood on the halfway line. He also refused to leave the field, sitting in the
centre-circle alone after the final whistle until manager Arsene Wenger
instructed him to get up. Arsenal went on to fall away in the title race and
the choice of Gallas to succeed Thierry Henry as captain looked a poor one.
25. Horror leg break
April 8, 1996
WARNING - GRAPHIC PHOTOGRAPH BELOW
It takes a lot to get to Manchester United's goalkeeping
icon Peter Schmeichel, but even the legendary Danish stopper looked on the
verge of being physically sick at David Busst's injury in the Old Trafford goalmouth
towards the end of the season.
2 minutes into Coventry City's visit to United, Busst had a collision
with Denis Irwin and Brian McClair, breaking his leg with the bone visible
through his sock. The game was held up for nine minutes and water and sand had
to be used to remove the substantial amount of blood from the grass.
The injury was so bad that there was a possibility that
Busst would have to have his leg amputated. Fortunately he avoided that fate
but such was the extent of it and the infections that followed that he never
played professionally again.
United won with 1-0, but both teams were eager to get the
game over after seeing Busst’s tragic.
24. Barton fights City on the final day
May 13, 2012
It was somewhat overshadowed by Sergio Aguero's intervention
later in the day, but Joey Barton almost stole all the headlines when he was
sent off for Queens Park Rangers on a visit to former club Manchester City on
the final day of the 2011-12 season.
Barton received a 12-game ban with a fine of £75,000 by the
FA for three separate incidents within the space of a few seconds to avoid the
drop. First, he clashed with Carlos Tevez off the ball and was shown the red
card by Mike Dean.
Not satisfied with that though, Barton kicked out at Sergio
Aguero and then appeared to aim a headbutt at Vincent Kompany. Each offence was
deemed worthy of a four-game ban, adding up to the 12-game total.
Eventually, with the added time from Barton's fracas and the
help of a man extra, City turned around a 2-1 deficit to win 3-2 and seal the
Premier League title.
23. Face Off in the tunnel
February 1, 2005
Rivalry should begin and end only at a game. This is not the
case for Captains Roy Keane, and Patrick Vieira who already confronted each
other at the entrance tunnel to the field.
The two captains were already at each other's throats and
the match hadn't even kicked off. Fortunately for fans watching on television,
Sky's cameras caught most of the confrontation which left referee Graham Poll
with the unenviable task of pulling them apart by shouting 'Roy, Roy, Roy,
Patrick, Patrick, Patrick'.
Right up until kick-off the pair were having a pop at each
other, but Keane ended up the victor as he led United to a 4-2 win to seal a
league double over one of his fiercest rivals.
22. Fowler vs Le Saux
February 27, 1999
Chelsea left back Graeme Le Saux might have been married
with a young daughter but that did not stop rumours about his sexuality following
the England defender throughout his career.
Robbie Savage is among the players who have since apologised
for taunting Le Saux, but the most high-profile incident was a running battle
between Le Saux and Robbie Fowler at Stamford Bridge in the same year.
After a physical challenge that ended with Le Saux laid out,
Fowler is reported to have said: 'Get up, you poof,' before bending over to
mimic a sex act, repeatedly shouting: 'Come and give me one up the a***.'
Somehow Fowler escaped with just a two-match ban despite embarrassing
himself in front of the world.
21. Keegan's rant
April 29, 1996
Caught live, and in response to Sir Alex Ferguson's claims
that teams try harder against his United side rather than Newcastle, Kevin Keegan
let rip: 'I've kept really quiet but I'll tell you something, he went down in
my estimations when he said that.
'We have not resorted to that. You can tell him now, we're
still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get
something. And I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love
it. But it really has got to me. I've voiced it live, not in front of the press
or anywhere. I'm not even going to the press conference. But the battle is
still on and Man United have not won this yet.'
Newcastle drew their last two games while United won theirs
to take the title by four points to leave Keegan looking a little silly and
giving an early indication that Fergie was the master of mind-games.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE!
References:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3010645/Top-50-shocking-moments-Premier-League-history-30-21-Thierry-Henry-Robert-Pires-fluff-lines-Joey-Barton-sees-red-against-Manchester-City.html
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