During a football match, there are 22 players, 11 each on either side all trying to do all they can to help their team win.
Sometimes in trying to do this they clash. It is however not news when two players from the different teams clash but it is news when two players from the same team clash.
Record abound of teammates falling out during a match needed sometimes players from the other team to pull them apart
On Sunday February 25th, Sheffield United team-mates Jack Robinson and Vinicius Souza had to be separated as tempers flared during their 1-0 defeat at Wolves on Sunday.
The spat between the Blades duo saw the video assistant referee check for a possible red card, luckily no action was taken.
Sheffield United forward Rhian Brewster likened the moment to a fall-out between siblings.
“It’s two passionate players coming together, it’s a disagreement. We sorted it out at half-time. Brothers fall out,” Brewster said.
Let’s take you down memory lane and bring you past incidents of teams mates falling out during live matches
Lee Bowyer v Kieron Dyer – April 2005
In what was possibly the Premier League’s most iconic case of warring team-mates, Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer traded blows in astonishing scenes that saw visiting midfielder Gareth Barry step in to break them up.
With Newcastle already down to 10 men and trailing Aston Villa 3-0 at home, both players were sent off, with Dyer given a three-match ban and Bowyer suspended for seven games.
Hugo Lloris v Son Heung-min – July 2020
With Tottenham leading 1-0 against Everton, then Spurs captain Hugo Lloris took exception to Son Heung-min failing to track back.
The French ran over and shoved Son in the back as the teams left the pitch at half-time, prompting a furious reaction that was forgotten after the break as they held on for a win.
Bruce Grobbelaar v Steve McManaman – September 1993
Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar was furious with team-mate Steve McManaman after a poor clearance allowed Everton to score in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in 1993.
McManaman argued back, angering Grobbelaar further and leading the keeper to grab his young team-mate and push him in the face. McManaman pushed back before retreating.
Anwar el Ghazi v Tyrone Mings – September 2019
Aston Villa team-mates Anwar el Ghazi and Tyrone Mings had a minor dispute in a goalless draw with West Ham.
Mings confronted the Dutch winger over tracking back, who appeared to try and headbutt the centre-back before the pair resolved the situation at half-time.
Ricardo Fuller v Andy Griffin – December 2008
Stoke were leading 1-0 at West Ham when Andy Griffin slipped, allowing Carlton Cole to equalise for the Hammers.
That was the cue for pandemonium to break out as Potters forward Ricardo Fuller gave his captain an earful and slapped him in the face, which saw him sent off.
Oh, and the hosts went on to score a late winner.
David Batty v Graeme le Saux – November 1995
During a miserable Champions League campaign, Blackburn and England team-mates David Batty and Graeme le Saux lost it with each other after both went for the same loose ball on a freezing night at Spartak Moscow.
The incident came after only four minutes and saw left-back Le Saux break his hand after punching the midfielder.
Emmanuel Adebayor v Nicklas Bendtner – January 2008
If losing the second leg of a League Cup semi-final to north London rivals Tottenham 5-1 was not bad enough, Arsenal forwards Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor added an ugly row to the sorrow.
It left the Denmark international with a cut on the bridge of his nose and blood stains on his shirt.
Ben White v Oleksandr Zinchenko – January 2024
Arsenal stars Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko had to be separated following the hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in January.
The heated confrontation between the defensive duo was sparked by the concession of a late goal and diffused by the Gunners’ backroom staff.
Manager Mikel Arteta later praised both players for “demanding excellence”.
