It’s an extraordinary story when two players from the same side get into a fight, like when Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Liverpool’s Joe Gomez fought in England, but it has happened at plenty of other teams before.
Eyal Berkovic v John Hartson
Frankly, you’d have to be mental to upset big John Hartson. So, we can only assume Eyal Berkovic is indeed mental.
The not-so-big Israeli took offence to a strong tackle from Hartson during a West Ham training session and responded with a quite frankly pathetic punch on the big Welshman’s leg. Hartson’s response was instant, with a powerful kick to the head knocking Berkovic back to the floor.
Unluckily for Hartson, the whole incident was captured on camera which meant he made history by becoming the first player to be charged with misconduct for a training ground incident.
Lee Bowyer v Kieron Dyer
Most players save their scraps for the training field. But seldom do they ‘sort it out’ in front of 50,000 plus fans at St James’ Park – not to forget the millions watching on TV.
With Newcastle 3-0 down to Aston Villa, Bowyer took offence to Dyer not passing him the ball and the pair lashed out at each other like a couple of schoolgirls. Gareth Barry played peacemaker before they were both sent off.
Cue awkward-looking photograph of the pair sitting either side of boss Graeme Souness being forced to apologize at a conciliatory press conference.
Joey Barton v Ousmane Dabo
Dabo claimed he looked like the ‘Elephant Man’ after an unprovoked attack on him by Barton during a Manchester City training session. The Frenchman required hospital treatment after being punched several times by the seething midfielder.
City responded by banning Barton, who was later given a suspended four-month jail sentence after admitting a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Alan Shearer v Keith Gillespie
The former Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie once narrated how a fight between him and his team-mate saw him admitted to hospital.
“We were away on a mid-season break, and I knocked some cutlery off the table accidentally. “[Shearer] looked over to say ‘pick that up’, and I just didn’t like the way he was talking to me,” he said in 2016.
“I just turned round and said: ‘Right. Outside now!’ And he took me up on the offer.
“I didn’t think he would, but I was a bit too proud to back down. We ended up going outside, and I took one swing and missed, and he hit me – and that was goodnight.”
Craig Bellamy v John Arne Riise
John Arne Riise hardly seemed like the most aggressive of characters during his spell at Anfield but that didn’t stop everyone’s favourite Welshman from picking a fight with the Norwegian in 2007.
Bellamy lost it with his Liverpool team-mate after a karaoke night on a ‘team bonding’ trip to Portugal and confronted him with a golf club. Bellamy made light of the incident a few days later after scoring against Barcelona in the Nou Camp, celebrating his strike by pretending to swing a seven iron.
Graeme Le Saux v David Batty
Just four minutes into Blackburn’s 1995 Champions League clash with Spartak Moscow, Batty got the hump after Le Saux took possession from him, then proceeded to miss the ball and give away a throw-in.
Batty berated the full-back, who responded by throwing a punch at him – breaking his hand in the process.
Steve McManaman v Bruce Grobbelaar
Merseyside derbies often descend into an all-out war between rival players but this time it was two team-mates who lost it with each other.
Liverpool’s experienced goalkeeper Grobbelaar was furious with McManaman for hitting a weak clearance that resulted in Everton taking the lead in a 1993 game.
The young winger gave Grobbelaar a mouthful back and the now even more furious Zimbabwean responded by grabbing McManaman around the throat. McManaman threw an arm out then wisely decided to retreat and fisticuffs were avoided.
Derek Hales v Mike Flanagan
The Charlton pair both saw red for brawling during an FA Cup third-round clash with Maidstone at The Valley in 1979.
Hales had vented his fury at his strike partner for being caught offside, claiming Flanagan should have played him in sooner, and the permed pair decided there was only one way to settle the argument – FIGHT!
Hales was sacked by the Addicks after the game before being reinstated on appeal, while Flanagan was sold to Crystal Palace.
Nick Barmby v Jimmy Bullard
Having been hammered by Everton in 2010, Hull’s players were ordered to train at a local park the following day. Tensions boiled over and Barmby and Bullard kicked off, which in fairness happens at training grounds around the country almost every day.
Except this particular altercation occurred in front of horrified members of the local Women’s Insititute, which certainly doesn’t happen every day.
Ricardo Fuller v Andy Griffin
Striker Fuller was was sent off for slapping his own captain during Stoke’s defeat to West Ham in 2008. The striker criticized Griffin after the Potters conceded a Carlton Cole goal and after much finger-pointing lashed out at his stunned skipper.
It cost Fuller a three-match ban and £20,000 fine. Needless to say, the Jamaican has kept his nose clean since and is still playing at 40 years young, albeit for non-league side Nantwich Town.
Emmanuel Adebayor v Nicklas Bendtner
With the Gunners trailing 4-1 away to north London rivals Tottenham in a League Cup tie in 2008, Adebayor aimed a headbutt at his fellow striker.
He later admitted his fall-out with Bendtner was down to the young Dane showing a lack of respect by wearing trainers in the dressing room.