Cantona became (in)famous for the attack that occurred on 25 January 1995 in an away match against Palace.
Eric was sent off by the referee for a kick on Palace defender Richard Shaw after Shaw had pulled his shirt and niggled at him all through the match. As he was being escorted from the pitch by United kit man Norman Davies, Eric broke away and launched a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, directed at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, followed by a series of punches.
Strangely, the infamous photograph of the moment Cantona's foot connected with Simmons, was used with permission on the front cover of Ash's single "Kung Fu". The front cover alone generated publicity in the British rock press, which helped the band get a hit single when it charted at number 57 in the same year.
Simmons was later tried for threatening language and behaviour. He received a seven-day prison sentence, but only served 24 hours of his sentence. It was also revealed that Simmons had previous criminal convictions, including an attempted violent robbery in 1992 where he had attacked a Sri Lankan petrol station worker with a spanner in Croydon, and that he had attended a National Front rally a short time before the Selhurst Park incident. His conviction and sentence also resulted in a £500 fine as well as a one-year ban from all football grounds in England and Wales.
At a press conference called later, Cantona gave what is perhaps his most famous quotation. Referring to how journalists would constantly monitor his behaviour, Cantona said, in a slow and deliberate manner: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much." (Andy likes that one!!)
He then got up from his seat and left, leaving many of the assembled crowd bemused. He was sentenced to 120 hours of community service after an appeal court overturned a two-week prison sentence for assault. In accordance with the Football Association's wishes, Manchester United suspended Cantona for the remaining four months of the 1994–95 season, but the suspension was later increased by the FA to a nine-month ban from world football, in conjunction with a further fine of £10,000. The FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly described his attack as "a stain on our game" that brought shame on football. Manchester United also fined Cantona two weeks wages and he was stripped of the French captaincy; his club eventually lost the Premier League title to Blackburn. In 2007 he said, "I have a lot of good moments, but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan."
There had been much speculation that Cantona would leave English football when his ban finished, but Alex Ferguson persuaded him to stay in Manchester and Cantona was once again inspirational.
Source: wikipedia, so some statements might not be so accurate.
Oh, and Crystal Palace withdrew Mr Simmon's season ticket for breaking ground rules!!
Cantona always claimed that Simmons, shouted racial insults and threw a missile at him as he walked off the pitch after being given a red card for kicking another player during a tackle.
Eric was sent off by the referee for a kick on Palace defender Richard Shaw after Shaw had pulled his shirt and niggled at him all through the match. As he was being escorted from the pitch by United kit man Norman Davies, Eric broke away and launched a 'kung-fu' style kick into the crowd, directed at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, followed by a series of punches.
Strangely, the infamous photograph of the moment Cantona's foot connected with Simmons, was used with permission on the front cover of Ash's single "Kung Fu". The front cover alone generated publicity in the British rock press, which helped the band get a hit single when it charted at number 57 in the same year.
Simmons was later tried for threatening language and behaviour. He received a seven-day prison sentence, but only served 24 hours of his sentence. It was also revealed that Simmons had previous criminal convictions, including an attempted violent robbery in 1992 where he had attacked a Sri Lankan petrol station worker with a spanner in Croydon, and that he had attended a National Front rally a short time before the Selhurst Park incident. His conviction and sentence also resulted in a £500 fine as well as a one-year ban from all football grounds in England and Wales.
At a press conference called later, Cantona gave what is perhaps his most famous quotation. Referring to how journalists would constantly monitor his behaviour, Cantona said, in a slow and deliberate manner: "When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much." (Andy likes that one!!)
He then got up from his seat and left, leaving many of the assembled crowd bemused. He was sentenced to 120 hours of community service after an appeal court overturned a two-week prison sentence for assault. In accordance with the Football Association's wishes, Manchester United suspended Cantona for the remaining four months of the 1994–95 season, but the suspension was later increased by the FA to a nine-month ban from world football, in conjunction with a further fine of £10,000. The FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly described his attack as "a stain on our game" that brought shame on football. Manchester United also fined Cantona two weeks wages and he was stripped of the French captaincy; his club eventually lost the Premier League title to Blackburn. In 2007 he said, "I have a lot of good moments, but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan."
There had been much speculation that Cantona would leave English football when his ban finished, but Alex Ferguson persuaded him to stay in Manchester and Cantona was once again inspirational.
Source: wikipedia, so some statements might not be so accurate.
Oh, and Crystal Palace withdrew Mr Simmon's season ticket for breaking ground rules!!
Cantona always claimed that Simmons, shouted racial insults and threw a missile at him as he walked off the pitch after being given a red card for kicking another player during a tackle.