Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary dressing room rant in 1995 is relived after Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan 29 years ago TODAY… with the Scot blasting Man United stars but refusing to scold the Frenchman
Sir Alex Ferguson’s infamous dressing room rant at his Man United players in 1995 after Eric Cantona’s kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan has been remembered, 29 years on from the controversial day.
United drew 1-1 at Selhurst Park that featured a moment of madness from Cantona after he launched into the crowd and kicked a supporter who had been giving him abuse during the game.
The Frenchman was given an initial two week jail sentence – reduced to 120 hours of community service – while also receiving a nine-month suspension from the FA.
But while Cantona came in for huge criticism for losing his head, Sir Alex instead turned his ire towards the rest of the team after the game – dubbing them a ‘f****** disgrace’ in a fiery rant – as told by ex-Red Devil Lee Sharpe.
Sharpe revealed during a speech at an event in 2017 that Cantona was let off the hook by the ‘fuming’ Scot, who instead conducted an incredible X-rated rant.
‘The manager comes in and he’s absolutely fuming,’ said Sharpe – who made 265 appearances for the Red Devils from 1988-1996.
‘The door smashes off the back of its hinges. The jacket is off, he’s got the short sleeves rolled up; steam coming out of his ears and frothing at the mouth.
‘There are benches in the middle of the room with shirts and balls to be signed. Cups of tea and plates of sandwiches. They’re sent f****** flying everywhere. We’re getting scalded and getting egg sandwiches down the back of our necks. We look at each other, thinking, f****** hell, Cantona is getting it here!
‘And then he starts, the manager. F****** Pallister, you can’t head anything, you can’t tackle. Incey, where the f*** have you been? Sharpey, my grandmother runs f****** faster than you! You’re all a f****** disgrace.
Sharpe revealed how he thought Cantona was going to ‘get it’ from Fergie before he was let off the hook instead
‘Nine o’clock, tomorrow morning, I’m going to run your f****** balls off in training. F****** shocking. And Eric. You can’t go around doing things like that son.’
Cantona later made further headlines for a bizarre comment at a press conference following an appeal hearing over his kung-fu kick.
When asked to make a comment in front of journalists, he said: ‘When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.’
He had a memorable return from his ban against Liverpool as he set up a Nicky Butt goal before scoring a penalty himself in a 2-2 draw.
Speaking during a film called The United Way in 2022, Cantona refused to apologise for the kick.
‘I have been insulted thousands of times and have never reacted, but sometimes you are fragile,’ he said.
‘I have one regret. I would have loved to have kicked him even harder. I was banned for nine months. They wanted me to be an example.’
Sir Alex Ferguson
