Iconic Moments in Football No.70
There are some things that happen on a football field that are unforgivable. Players become carried away in the heat of battle and tempers flare, causing them to lash out at opponents or go in for wild challenges. One of these incidents will be the subject of this week’s ‘Iconic Moment’.
Duncan Ferguson was a controversial player who often let his wild temper get the better of him during matches. He shares the record number of red cards in Premier League history with Richard Dunne and Patrick Vieira. All three were sent off eight times over his 12 years in the English top flight.
On 16th April 1994, Ferguson was playing for Glasgow Rangers against Raith Rovers and made front-page news after headbutting Raith’s full-back Jock McStay. Incredibly, neither the referee nor his linesmen saw the incident and Ferguson remained on the field.
The assault didn’t go unpunished though as the Scottish Football Association banned him for twelve matches. Eighteen months later, Ferguson was sentenced to three months in prison as the headbutt was his third assault.
In October 1994, Ferguson moved to Everton. Ruud Gullit came in to sign him for Newcastle United in the summer of 1998. He spent two seasons at the Tyneside club before rejoining Everton for a further six seasons before retiring from the game in 2006.
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