An unfortunate incident featuring Idrissa Gueye being shown a red card for striking teammate Michael Keane has sparked interest about similar in-game confrontations between teammates.
Past Incidents
Starting with some memorable examples from soccer history.
Charlton's Hales and Flanagan, FA Cup 1978-79
In a tight FA Cup fixture, forwards Derek Hales and Mike Flanagan erupted into a fight. Reportedly, Hales believed Flanagan was not giving him the ball so threw a punch. The two players received red cards.
Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg, Hearts v Raith Rovers, 1994-95
In a pre-season friendly, Hearts defenders Craig Levein and Graeme Hogg began fighting after an opponent almost scored. Witnesses described Levein throwing powerful punches that caused a broken nose for Hogg.
Blackburn's Le Saux and Batty, Champions League 1995-96
In a European match, Blackburn teammates Graeme Le Saux and David Batty clashed over a loose ball and Le Saux tried to punch Batty. Thankfully, teammate Tim Sherwood intervened to stop further violence.
Dortmund's Lehmann and Amoroso, 2002-03
Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann reacted badly to a ruled out goal by trying to grab striker Marcio Amoroso. Despite the goal not counting, Lehmann was dismissed for his conduct.
Recent Premier League Cases
Several other footballers have earned the questionable distinction of being sent off for violence against a teammate.
- Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer (Newcastle, 2005) – Infamously came to blows during a home loss to Aston Villa.
- Ricardo Fuller (Stoke, 2008) – Struck captain Andy Griffin and received a red card.
- Idrissa Gueye (Everton, 2025) – Latest entry to this group after slapping Michael Keane.
Other notable confrontations feature:
- Bruce Grobbelaar and Steve McManaman (Liverpool, 1993) – Angry exchange but no sanctions.
- Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa, 2019) – Head-to-head without disciplinary action.
- Marcão and Kerem Akturkoglu (Galatasaray, 2021) – Aggressive contact followed by punches before dismissal.
World Cup First Appearance Gap Milestones
Craig Gordon could set a notable record if he appears at the next World Cup. It would be 22 years since his international first game.
But, several other players have had lengthier gaps between first cap and finals participation:
- Essam El-Hadary (Egypt) – Over two decades and three months between first game (1996) and World Cup (2018). El-Hadary was the first from Africa to save a penalty in a World Cup match.
- Atiba Hutchinson (Canada) – Nearly two decades between first cap (2003) and finals (2022).
- Pia Sundhage (Sweden) – Over a decade and a half between first appearance (1975) and women's finals (1991).
Biggest Home Defeats for Title Holders
Liverpool's latest loss to Nottingham Forest joins a group of shocking home losses experienced by reigning Premier League champions.
A few notable examples are:
- Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City (2011) – Largest home defeat for a title holder.
- Leicester City 1-6 Tottenham (2017) – Equal scoreline with Harry Kane scoring four goals.
- Manchester City 0-4 Tottenham (2024) – Latest comprehensive defeat for the champions.
Other significant home defeats feature matches with Leeds, Chelsea, and several other clubs.
Title Winners with More Goals Conceded
Is it possible for a side to win a title despite allowing more than they score? Yes, there are.
- Coritiba (Brazil 1985) – Claimed the championship with goals scored and goals conceded.
- POSCO Atoms (South Korea 1986) – Champions with a -2 goal difference.
These unusual feats often occur in complicated tournament formats.
Your Questions
Readers are encouraged to send any football queries on subjects such as:
- Nations declining World Cup invitations.
- Players getting yellow cards while being substituted.
- Amusing naming patterns in squad lineups.
You are welcome to share your queries and answers.
