Public Displays of Terrible Sportsmanship

Credit: bc-fotografie

Throughout history, many professional sports personalities have taken their competitive edge to the next level, by not being able to keep their frustrations and anger sealed. Usually, such unsavoury acts of sportsmanship are witnessed by the public eye and, as a consequence, their careers are forever tarnished. Here’s a look at the sporting personalities who have committed foul play, a heinous hack, or generally flipped out in front of the cameras for the viewing world to see.

 

Mike Tyson

This is perhaps one of the most notorious displays of terrible sportsmanship – the infamous WBA heavyweight championship match between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield. It was to be a fight which was expected to see an end to Mike Tyson’s career, and one which neither fighter nor referee, Mills Lane, will ever forget. The first two rounds were like any other heavyweight title fight, with both men looking very hungry for the big shots and the even bigger win. There was an accidental, stray head-butt from Holyfield in the second round, cutting Tyson just above is right eye, which he didn’t take kindly too. In retaliation, Tyson resorted to feasting on of Holyfield’s ears in the third round. The bites resulted in Tyson being disqualified from the match, having his boxing license revoked and getting hit with a $3million fine, plus legal costs. During the aftermath Tyson was also very close to serving a prison sentence but got off lightly a year later when a decision was taken to restore his license.

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Zinedine Zidane

The French football superstar didn’t have the best of ends to his untarnished professional career after getting sent off in the 2006 World Cup final for assaulting Italian superstar Marco Materazzi. Zidane had already announced his plans to retire and everyone knew that the 2006 World Cup final would be the last game he ever played, but it was to be one of the most memorable of his career. Sadly it won’t be remembered for the way he gave France the lead after scoring in the first 7 minutes, but for his intentional head-butt to the chest of Marco Materazzi, after he apparently insulted his sister.

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Kevin Muskat

Football has certainly seen its fair share of fouls over the years: some accidental, some that were a result of the offending player simply losing their cool. The former Wolverhampton and Millwall star Kevin Muskat, who now plays for Australian side Melbourne Victory, had the worst end to his final season as a professional footballer after his horrific scissor kick tackle on Melbourne Hearts Adrian Zahra, which has also been hailed as one of the worst football fouls ever.

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Eric Cantona

This is one of the most notorious displays of a sports personality losing their head, which is still a talking point fifteen years on. Something that will haunt Cantona for the rest of his life. Sadly it’s the only thing people remember him for. It was to be a comment which Crystal Palace supporter, Mathew Simmons, wishes he had kept for pub banter. After Simmons supposedly made a comment about Cantona’s mum, the Manchester United super star saw red and preceded to flying kick the spectator over the side-line barrier. Cantona was banned from the game for nine months and was given community service. Simmons is still receiving threats, to this day, for causing the incident.

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This expose of naughty sports personalities was brought to you by Home Leisure Direct – suppliers of popular table sports equipment including air hockey, football and pool tables throughout the UK.

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1 thought on “Public Displays of Terrible Sportsmanship”

  1. That was a nice shot!!just right in time…I love watching football!!!

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