This day in history: 30 years ago, Eric Cantona’s kung fu kick stunned football
January 25, 1995, is a date etched into the history of Manchester United and world football, though it began as just another matchday.
On this day, Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United traveled to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace. United were leading the Premier League, while Palace were battling relegation. Among the visitors’ star players was the iconic Eric Cantona, who found himself locked in a physical duel with Palace defender Richard Shaw.
The buildup: Palace manager Alan Smith had instructed Shaw to mark Cantona tightly, which led to frequent clashes between the two. Frustrated, Cantona asked referee Alan Wilkie, "So no yellow cards then?" Moments later, he retaliated by striking Shaw in front of assistant referee Eddie Walsh.
The result? A straight red card and an early exit for the Frenchman.
The infamous incident: As Cantona made his way off the pitch toward the tunnel, Palace supporter Matthew Simmons approached the edge of the stands, hurling taunts. According to Simmons, he yelled, “Off, off, off! It’s an early bath for you, Cantona.” However, others claimed he shouted, “You dirty French b*****d, go back to France.”
What followed became one of the most notorious moments in football history. Cantona launched himself at Simmons with a kung fu-style kick, followed by punches, sparking worldwide headlines.
The aftermath: Cantona faced severe consequences. He was charged with assault, spending two weeks in jail before his sentence was reduced to 120 hours of community service. The English FA handed him an eight-month ban from football and fined him £10,000.
The incident effectively ended Cantona’s international career, as he was never called up to the French national team again. Simmons, too, faced punishment—a £500 fine and a one-year stadium ban.
Legacy: Cantona continued playing for Manchester United for another 18 months, retiring in May 1997 at the age of just 31. The incident remains one of the most infamous in football history, standing alongside other controversies, such as Roy Keane’s infamous tackle that ended Alf-Inge Håland’s career—though that’s a story for another time.
Lars Foster
Dailysports's expert
Translated by the editors
