From Cantona to Tony Adams, from drink driving to shooting an intern with an air rifle, who are the top 10 bad boys in football?
With Marco Reus’ half a million euros fine for driving without a license for over three years, CaughtOffside decided to take a look at the 10 biggest bad boys in football and their own brushes with the law.
Arsenal legends, a current Liverpool starter and Manchester United greats all included in this criminally good list.
10) Ian Wright
The cheeky Arsenal striker got in trouble with the constabulary after he decided to purchase two cars – problem was he hadn’t paid tax or insurance on either.
Wright got away with it for a while but was eventually found out which resulted in 14 days in the nick for the Londoner.
9) Nicklas Bendtner
The former Arsenal man is known for his eccentricities such as that time he claimed he was one of the best striker in the world or when he decided to pull his trousers down and rub himself against taxis in Copenhagen.
However, Bendtner was arrested with teammate Lee Cattermole whilst on loan at Sunderland. The two were allegedly trashing parked cars in Newcastle and caused over £4000 worth of damage – however Bendtner was eventually cleared of all charges.
8) El Hadji Diouf
Perhaps one of the most despised Premier League players in history, Diouf was known for his bad attitude and even worse behaviour.
The Senegalese forward was arrested for a nightclub brawl in Manchester where one man was injured before being bailed and was once charged by police for spitting at an 11 year Middlesborough fan. Lovely man.
Spitting seemed to be Diouf’s forte as events similar to this littered his career.
7) George Best
A genius at Manchester United, sadly Best’s predilection for alcohol led him down some dark paths and he spent time behind bars for a number of offences such as driving under the influence, assaulting a police officer and failing to answer bail.
6) Mario Balotelli
Although he’s never actually been arrested Balotelli sure has come close and has a seemingly never ending list of fines throughout his short career.
Offences include; throwing darts at youth team members, brawling with then boss Roberto Mancini and setting fireworks off in his own bathroom.
Not to mention his latest transgressions at Liverpool!
5) Tony Adams
Mr Arsenal himself, the defender had a history with alcohol that plagued his playing career throughout the 80s and was responsible for him spending two months behind bars.
Adams was convicted of drink driving after crashing his Ford Sierra into a wall and was faced with fourth months in lock-up but was released halfway through his sentence.
4) Rene Higuita
Higuita is world famous for his incredible scorpion kick but the goalkeeper nicknamed El Loco was arrested and imprisoned for his part in the 1993 kidnapping case of drug baron Pablo Escobar.
Higuita wasn’t actively involved in the abduction and only delivered the ransom money, but was paid for his services and under Colombian law it it illegal to make profit from an abduction.
3) Luis Suarez
He had to be on the list, of course.
Suarez may be good at football but his biting and racism will always taint his image.
Suarez’s four month biting ban in the summer was the pinnacle of a career linked with controversy.
2) Eric Cantona
Cantona will always be remembered for that kick against supporter Matthew Simmons at Crystal Palace which led to an eight month ban for the Frenchman.
Off the field Cantona was arrested earlier this year in Primrose Hill after allegations he was involved in a street scrap. He was cautioned for common assault but no further action was taken.
1) Joey Barton
Barton is renowned for both his on and off the field troubles.
In 2007 he was jailed for six months after attacking a man in Liverpool city centre when drunk.
And whilst behind bars Barton admitted to a common assault charge against his teammate Ousmane Dabo at the club’s training ground. Dabo had to go to hospital with his injuries and Barton received a four month suspended sentence.