Reflecting on Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick 🔥⚽️BBC

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Watch the BBC first on iPlayer 👉 bbc.in/iPlayer-Home Eric Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick shocked the nation. 26 years on, he and the former players reflect on the aftermath of the event.
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[@stephenbayliss7661]

"I only have one regret; I didn't kick him even more than that" I had to rewind it 3 times.... King Eric

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Martial Arts

[@stephenbayliss7661]

@@NazriB come again?

[@tonypasma1707]

Oooh

[@dannywholuv]

Time Stamp?

[@Johnny-sj9sj]

@@NazriB Just because your mother didn’t love you and you don’t know who your father is, it doesn’t mean that you can come on here and talk bollocks to us normal people.

[@lewistremonti7827]

The supporter deserved it! As Eric said he had a lot of good moment but the best was when he kicked that hooligan!

[@goldytwatus1674]

No, you don't get to attack someone because they say something you don't like, obviously. Because that would put incredibly dumb people like you in serious danger, and we have to protect those too stupid to protect themselves.

[@krillep546]

If it was a black player the media hade crucified him and all fans as well: "Savage, monster, caveman" etc. He wouldnt survive in the landscape that it was back then.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? UFC SILAT UEFA SW

[@BU532]

@@krillep546 Man people bring colour into anything these days. Any way to claim victimhood you do. STOP BEING A VICTIM

[@MrTkeddo]

As a Gooner I have to say Cantona is one of the pillars of the Premier League we couldn’t admit it at the time but he was a genius football player.

[@63Baggies]

Yes. but you had Berkamp

[@tomrogers7110]

If a player who assaulted a fan is one of the pillars of the Premier League, that doesn't say much for the Premier League, does it.

[@definitelynotjiraiya5063]

@@63Baggies cantona was better

[@epinhervin9355]

@@63Baggies even dennis bergkamp are (was) afraid to fly with an airplane. The King Eric? He only afraid with Alex Ferguson

[@harryknight4193]

Pls , just take some time and read about paul nixon . I’m not being toxic , i just want you to understand the full story

[@xbulelo]

Les Ferdinand is 55 here. He’s in very good health - a joy to see. As for Eric, I’m glad he did what he did.

[@aaropajari7058]

As a QPR fan I loved Ferdi...and I remember watching this game wondering who the Palace fan thought he was. No one, that's who he was. Only respect for Eric.

[@davidstephenson164]

​@@aaropajari7058 shame about that other Ferdinand who played for you, the one who lied about being racially abused.

[@aaropajari7058]

@@davidstephenson164 odd comment.

[@davidstephenson164]

@@aaropajari7058 How? It's true, Terry was exonerated in court.

[@aaropajari7058]

@@davidstephenson164 Sure. What any of this to do with anything?

[@omariam05]

This is why I love and respect Cantona as a player and a man. He has backbone and doesn't take shit, not to mention, he's a phenomenal player, I haven't seen anyone quite like him.

[@kre_dopeprod.3766]

Satan is more cool

[@gaznev2111]

Berba came close 😉

[@relstuff7582]

Well, as a Muslim, and I am sure you also are, it would have been better if he refused to play or flagged it with a non violent confrontation. Eric also has a mouth. I am a fan, but we need to be fair.

[@JayJenas-ge2tn]

Ibrahimovic is another one

[@logan5326]

@@JayJenas-ge2tn…Gatusso & Montero were players that didn’t take crap from no one either!

[@Arthur_King_of_the_Britons]

The 1990s were awesome

[@jasonlaiym]

I grew up at a obscure Asian country and all the kids at my school were imitating Cantona's kick for months. Everybody wanted to be Cantona.

[@dvm007]

They are born with it

[@shahmohammadalnoor9676]

Exactly what every disrespectful fans deserves.. "A STRAIGHT KICK TO THEIR FACE" KING CANTONA 🖤

[@timc6669]

​@scpython1because as we all know the FA is the pillar of morality and integrity Get off your high horse you square

[@lucky_show6534]

@SCPython bruh why being all negative.

[@lucky_show6534]

@SCPython I understand.

[@user-so8kx7uj2x]

He kicked a fascist. That is why he was prideful

[@LitoYTB]

@scpython1stop crying woman

[@theresenydahl9531]

I'm against violence but that guy deserved to be kicked. Cantona is iconic. I wasn't aware of what the fan Simmons did in the court room - crazy. I wonder what he's doing today.

[@nikreece6295]

Getting bummed by nick griffin properly

[@robjj5373]

Google his name. He's always in trouble

[@theresenydahl9531]

@@robjj5373 Thanks and I bet he is 😞

[@nam0007]

@@robjj5373 full name please?

[@mariafreehill3069]

Don't be so Nosey Tess !

[@ziadmutasim1235]

I was in the Students Union having a pint and we all stood and watched the big screen…once we saw it everyone cheered for King Eric. YNWA

[@matthewdoyle3877]

Bet your a wimp

[@RollForever88]

My favorite player of all time. He meant a great deal to me when I was school aged.

[@AndrewHawkes-uj5ux]

Me too m8

[@lifemusic1980]

Absolute Legend

[@stormhawk3319]

In a strange way, after the attack, opposition football fans who hated Cantona suddenly starting liking him despite playing for Utd.

[@rhindy6846]

It just adds to the legend that is Eric Cantona. The fan deserved it. He must have said something realy bad for Cantona to kung fu kick him haha.pure genius and a genius of a player

[@brumtownmiller6130]

Rightfully so Eric!!! These kinda fools think they can just say anything to footballers and get no repercussions! Talk smack, you might get smacked lol

[@lexkanyima2195]

So true

[@Kwioresma]

To quote one of the greatest: Chat shit get banged

[@nobotshere8364]

Was worth it. Legend and KING 👑

[@davepowell7168]

Elite athlete preserved his honour, fairplay. We should choose the dragons we antagonise with thought.

[@GrxTTyttt]

It’s better in the United Way. “My only regret? I never kicked him harder” absolutely spinetingling

[@rajendranadarajan8931]

I was 10 years old in 96 when I first watched the EPL. Back in Malaysia we didn't have live matches yet but we would have the EPL highlights every week showing all the goals of the week. Even at a young age and not knowing much of football, when I saw Cantona playing, you knew you were watching a very special player.

[@Peapodzilla]

I'm the same age and had the EXACT feeling.

[@angrymancunian]

​@@scpython1what a load of bollocks man, he came back better than ever!

[@asiangamers8514]

Same here... Me n my friend would wear school pants customize with small cantona7 symbol.

[@rowdyelitehater8595]

Is there no big football in Malaysia? Or is it just local teams

[@asiangamers8514]

@@rowdyelitehater8595 it is not we cant be on international level every week... The cost is too high now to sustain football games. The tickets in Malaysia are quite cheap. Like 3 dollars per person.

[@runescaperatchet465]

"Crimes, war and violence will multiply...I love football"

[@EveryonesAWinner]

Les Ferdinand 100% gentleman met him last year lovely bloke, Richard Shaw saved my team Millwall from relegation to tier 4, Eric one of the greatest players ever

[@Millwall1885.]

Miiiiii

[@miamitten1123]

1:37 Got a punch in as well🤣

[@azapro911]

Greatest Frenchman of all-time.

[@michaelgaskell2031]

LEGEND. All time fave player. CLASS

[@gabormiklay9209]

I still remeber it from the newspaper! It was a full front page story.

[@stephenbayliss7661]

Page 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10 too

[@thekingskid]

Cantona simply reminded the hooligan of a basic rule, "actions have consequences." GGMU

[@nhatuphong1579]

I love his kicking all the time. Just only King Eric can do it his way.

[@webmeister5000]

I'm an Arsenal fan and I stand with Eric on this one...the fans get self-entitled and treat players like dirt and they need to be taught a lesson on how to be decent human beings!

[@shanehodges6980]

arsenal fan talking about being decent human beings.... you're having a laugh!

[@dcort100]

Now go apologize to adebayor. You arsenal treated him like racial dirt. His celebration running towards you disgusting fans will always be backed up and supported.

[@baller3667]

​@shanehodges6980 u can't talk with ur pfp

[@M_Editz11]

Dang..

[@xavier_2.0]

@@shanehodges6980 Israel pfp judging others morals

[@prakharjain9801]

He did the right thing!

[@Matty217]

We love King Cantona. As another football legend said ‘chat shit. Get banged’ lol.

[@wm2357]

Cantona did nothing wrong

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@ W M. First time seeing the footage. Very clever to talk with his feet not his fists. Shows the fibre of this man and his early years in a working class home. As for the psycho in court ! would he have been a user at that time ?

[@antekacunic9315]

Exactly.

[@kagankagan3986]

Kick was wrong. He should have aimed his face and smashed it.

[@nikreece6295]

@@kagankagan3986 lol

[@kingschulz1444]

[@dumbasses_R_us]

I had this poster on my bedroom wall as a kid. Epic!

[@andyde1809]

Legend Cantona!

[@chokrizihi439]

Legend ❤️‍🩹

[@jnicemint]

As an Arsenal fan, this made Cantona my favourite player that season.

[@zactom6880]

As a Brighton fan we love this guy

[@harryknight4193]

We dont give you shit for your fans that died on 911 , please respect the fan that died because of this incident

[@columkenn]

I remember seeing this at the time. Not a United fan but thought that was brilliant)) The dude in the audience deserved the kick

[@willienelsongonzalez4609]

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting! I’m glad that football hooligan got what he obviously deserved!

[@guibredacalixto9086]

The documentary is top class

[@jed_91]

Legend bring joy to life eric cantona

[@pietrom2]

Love you Eric Cantona

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

Probably the most iconic prem footballer of all time

[@aranyaism]

Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Rooney, beckham ?

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

@@aranyaism yep... theyre all great players but not as iconic

[@miamitten1123]

@@aranyaism He said "probably" so there's room for more.

[@pantnick]

Eric the King.

[@hhill4413]

Somethings happen in life that you see and never ever forget. This is one of them.I am a Wolves fan , but,on that day, believe everyone was a Man Utd fan ,but a Cantona fan for life.

[@flipperfish7]

Eric will always be King

[@breadiemercury7676]

As a daughter of an Italian mother I understood perfectly well why Cantona reacted that way didn’t he insult Eric’s mum in a really vile way calling her the C word

[@nikreece6295]

paolo di canio would've done something like this too given the chance...he was as a hothead as cantona was

[@siuuuuuuuuuuuuu811]

I agree someone called my mum the c word and I broke his nose

[@Comprends-ton-Dim]

He isnt italian

[@johnflanagan5123]

Great job Eric, your the king.

[@ermir7996]

Iconic, leader, winner, charismatic, rock star, talented, forthright, passionate, rebel, free spirit, Legend. One of the most deep, sensitive and intelligent people in sport (and like an artist, a true provocateur). But I know the majority of people won't see it, cause they are just like journalists "seagulls seeking sardines" and nothing more.

[@graytoby1]

“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport, Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon the science will fix the cells to the state and so we will become eternal. “Only accidents, crimes, wars, will still kill us but unfortunately, crimes, wars, will multiply. I love football. Thank you.” Man's a living legend

[@suleimanali1635]

I agree 💯

[@EponaDreams-AmbientDreamscapes]

I still sing Cantona songs to my kids. He's a genius. Him and Keano playing. Legends.

[@hatetheorcs5727]

I remember his days

[@WhiteGurlMagic]

LEGEND!!!!

[@orionpacks]

Hmm i luv me some white gurl magic ✨ 🫶🏼

[@WhiteGurlMagic]

@@orionpacks id rather drag my 🍑-raw on uneven,jagged pavement during a Scorching Alabama Summers Day. But thanks 👍🏼

[@scottgresham6759]

Don't underestimate a man's ability to defend himself, we're wired for upholding respect

[@gdogg3710]

Part of Cantona’s ability to stay out of trouble when he came back was the other players just left him alone out of respect. They’d probably all wanted to do that to someone in the crowd at one point or another and decided Cantona had earned the right to live in peace…

[@simonmacdonald7645]

Eric cantona is a Giant footballer in the game and will always be A true gentleman ERIC THE KING

[@BillyGOAT83]

Les Ferdinand is a real one, spot on 👊🏾

[@natsudama4604]

ABSOLUTE LEGEND

[@johannsimonot]

In france medias said that eric was crazy, like he was in france...then, i learned he kicked a hooligan... As a small shy kid, i was so impressed. I decided to follow the player and became a United fan. I am 43today, still a die hard fan whatever the results. Eric the king!

[@RandomnessTube.]

Everyone has a tipping point even the king.

[@nikolamilivojevic6495]

King Eric 👑

[@musicguy20]

You mess with the bull, you get the horns, simple.

[@donathandorko]

This incident alongside Eddie Irvine in Brazil 94 are 2 of the most unjust bans in sport I can recall.

[@Anys-wu7vc]

One is and remains until the rest of his life a legend, Eric Cantona, and the fan, well....down the drain like shit down the toilet.

[@samz918]

2024 and still the King 👑

[@ahmedabughalia4957]

eric was a classic guy

[@stormhawk3319]

He was like a rock superstar.

[@livingstone8347]

I see the guy made a good account of himself in court.

[@asinineik45hhh]

Beautiful kick

[@kushra]

Cantona is king. Wish I had the pleasure of ever seeing him play live. COYG

[@denijuliansyah658]

the legend

[@gktde9874]

What a beautiful kick ♥️

[@haberdasheryandspam]

My favourite Premier league player ever

[@PompeyBoy66]

Good ending comment by Les Ferdinand.

[@MrNathanBF]

Legend

[@joliecide]

King Eric. Don't bloody argue, son.

[@ashabilfirdaus9894]

EPIC CANTONA

[@michelvandijk1656]

" you wanna be hooligan I am also King Hooligan"!💪♥️💪💯

[@jinz0]

legend

[@mutharyounis8106]

Can we have a moment of respect for cantona’s tiempos?

[@sneakytacos773]

I really like how this video ended. Very intentional & true.

[@joelreis5366]

You dont make players like Eric Cantona anymore. What a legend...

[@Tuk3r999]

I guarantee that every professional footballer has wanted to do what Eric Cantona did at some point in their career. No other player has the balls though!

[@joaoleonel1217]

Or was that foolish

[@Timmy51m]

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.

[@RamSingh-cg2dn]

This has got to be "the mother" of all statement EC made!!!

[@walterrocconi308]

a hero !

[@lionfpv4201]

Cantona ur my legend I really believe u can be Manchester United manager 💪🏻💪🏻

[@mariafreehill3069]

Twins no. 7. Respect

[@Destin65]

Always like Cantona as well as some of his peers at the time, I remember the rivalry with Man U and Newcastle at times, also Liverpool's sensational scoring tandem. Something about Cantona was special much like Pele was a notch above many of his peers. Cantona had what I felt was a great football mind, great vision and ability to read plays as they were developing and put himself into a position to either assist or score. I remember when he left and #7 was passed down to some kid named Beckham. I was like, who the f' is this guy? Well, he turned out to be pretty decent too, I reckon. No doubt with some of Cantona's tutelage to help guide him. Like so many, I felt the fan deserved it. You could see them hurling constant insults. I would really appreciate the sporting authorities to really crack down on fan abuse.

[@epinhervin9355]

you didn't know David Beckham at that time? He even wearing number 10 when scoring a half pitch goal. Didn't see it?

[@HA-ug4qu]

And then came another kid to take the #7 from Beckham 😂 And look who wears #7 now 🙃

[@samdiv2670]

Now that kick heard around england. ❤

[@johncarr4885]

The lad's a French man anything can happen keep smiling king Eric

[@user-my9lx6rr4s]

Ray Shoesmith would be proud!!

[@smartgenes1]

Sir Les tells it like it is.

[@sparkidee]

I remember at school everyone was talking about it and because I'm a united the kids were saying did I like what Eric did and I said no as I didn't know at the time that he was being racially abused. It wasn't till I found out it was cos of that, that I agreed with what King Eric did because no one deserves to be racially abused. Eric was a man who took no shit and I like and respect that in people. My yellow and green away top with his name and number on the back no longer fitted obviously so a few years ago I got the shirt online and I wear it with pride with the collar up and Cantona 7 displayed big on the back 🔥👊

[@Arthur_King_of_the_Britons]

How can a white man racially abuse a white man?

[@chriscope7292]

The man the myth the king

[@kuitaranheatmorus9932]

Well this was definitely pretty interesting

[@ORIGINOLINDIVIDUAL]

The King does what he want's ! 👑 *LONG LIVE THE KING*

[@NihilSineDeo09]

Imagine a rematch in the ring - for charitable reasons, of course!

[@trinex333thegeniusandcompa7]

Wtf. I WANNA HEAR MORE OF CANTONA. Everyone else shut up.

[@alimakawi1612]

this must be taught to generations

[@burnaardnufc3173]

My three favourite players as a kid, and still today: 1 Cantona 🇨🇵 2 R. Baggio 🇮🇹 3 Brehme 🇩🇪

[@ifn3923]

Have never heard anyone say anything bad about King Cantona

[@daniel-cb4qd]

Time to rise up and do a Cantona!