Iconic Moments in Football No.14
Paulo Di Canio shoves the referee to the floor!
Sheffield Wednesday vs Arsenal
September 26th 1998
A little over a month into the 1998/99 season and League and FA Cup holders Arsenal travel to Sheffield for a league game with Sheffield Wednesday.
The game is goalless until just before half time when the game sparked to life with a flurry of unsavoury incidents.
It all started with Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira having his shirt pulled by Wednesday’s Wim Jonk and the Arsenal midfielder was thrown to the floor.
Vieira got up off quickly and lashed out at the Dutchman Jonk and knocking him to the floor.
Paulo Di Canio, Wednesday’s new record signing from Celtic raced in and shoved Vieira in the back. Arsenal’s Martin Keown was quick to get in the way and ended up grappling with Di Canio before the two were separated by team mates.
Most of the outfield players got involved in the fracas and Petr Rudi tried to drag his team mate Di Canio away from the where some players were still pushing and shoving each other.
The Italian was livid and was trying to free himself from Rudi who was holding him back. He was wildly gesticulating, shouting and was extremely angry.
Paul Alcock, the referee in charge of the game walked over to Di Canio and showed him a red card. In a moment of madness, the Italian shoved Alcock in the chest. He caught the referee off balance and almost comically, Alcock stumbled back a few steps before falling to the floor.
The moment has gone down in Premier League history and summed up the feisty temper that Di Canio possessed throughout his career. He was definitely a maverick, hated by opposing fans and loved by his own. He possessed skill and an amazing talent but this moment is what most people will remember him for.
Paulo Di Canio was given an 11 match game ban and left Sheffield Wednesday at the end of that season before joining West Ham United.
Paul Alcock sadly passed away in January 2018 after losing a battle with cancer.
About Author
