A recent incident featuring Idrissa Gueye receiving a sending-off for slapping teammate Michael Keane has sparked curiosity about other in-game altercations among teammates.
Historic Incidents
Starting with several notable cases from soccer the past.
Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan, Charlton v Maidstone, FA Cup, 1978-79
During a tight FA Cup fixture, forwards Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan exploded into a fight. Reportedly, Hales believed Flanagan was refusing to passing him the ball and landed a punch. The two players received red cards.
Hearts Defenders Levein and Hogg, 1994-95
During a pre-season friendly, Hearts defenders Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg began throwing punches after Raith's Gordon Dalziel nearly scored. Witnesses recalled Levein throwing strong punches that caused a broken nose for Hogg.
Graeme Le Saux and David Batty, Spartak Moscow v Blackburn, 1995-96
During a Champions League game, Blackburn players Graeme Le Saux and David Batty argued over a loose ball and Le Saux tried to strike Batty. Fortunately, captain Tim Sherwood intervened to prevent further violence.
Jens Lehmann and Marcio Amoroso, Schalke v Dortmund, 2002-03
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann reacted badly to a disallowed goal by attempting to strangle teammate Marcio Amoroso. Despite the goal not counting, Lehmann was dismissed for his conduct.
Recent English Top-Flight Incidents
Several additional footballers have made the dubious honor of being sent off for aggression against a teammate.
- Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer (Newcastle, 2005) – Infamously fought during a home loss to Aston Villa.
- Ricardo Fuller (Stoke, 2008) – Hit skipper Andy Griffin and received a red card.
- Idrissa Gueye (Everton, 2025) – Latest addition to this group after slapping Michael Keane.
Other notable confrontations include:
- Bruce Grobbelaar and Steve McManaman (Liverpool, 1993) – Heated argument but no sanctions.
- Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa, 2019) – Confrontation without punishment.
- Marcão and Kerem Akturkoglu (Galatasaray, 2021) – Headbutt followed by punches before dismissal.
International First Appearance Wait Milestones
Craig Gordon may establish a notable milestone if he appears at the 2026 World Cup. That would be over two decades since his international debut.
However, a few other players have experienced even longer gaps between first cap and World Cup participation:
- Essam El-Hadary (Egypt) – Over two decades and a quarter year between first game (1996) and World Cup (2018). He also was the first African to save a penalty in a finals match.
- Atiba Hutchinson (Canada) – Nearly 20 years between first cap (2003) and World Cup (2022).
- Pia Sundhage (Sweden) – Over a decade and a half between debut (1975) and Women's World Cup (1991).
Heaviest Home Defeats for Title Holders
The champions' latest 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest joins a list of surprising home losses experienced by current title holders.
A few memorable examples are:
- Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City (2011) – Biggest loss at Old Trafford for a title holder.
- Leicester City 1-6 Tottenham (2017) – Equal margin with Harry Kane netting four goals.
- Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham (2024) – Latest heavy loss for the champions.
Additional notable home defeats include matches with Leeds, Chelsea, and multiple other clubs.
Champions with Negative Goal Difference
Can a team to claim a championship despite conceding more goals? Yes, examples exist.
- Coritiba (Brazil 1985) – Won the championship with goals scored and goals conceded.
- POSCO Atoms (South Korea 1986) – Champions with a -2 goal difference.
These unusual feats often happen in complicated league systems.
Your Questions
Readers are encouraged to submit any soccer questions on subjects such as:
- Nations refusing World Cup places.
- Players receiving yellow cards while leaving the field.
- Amusing naming coincidences in squad lineups.
You are welcome to share your queries and responses.