Football Fight Club

Rule Number One of Football Fight Club. Don't start a fight on a football pitch. Did Maradona follow this rule? I think you know the answer.

In 1984 Diego Maradona and his Barcelona teammates ignored this rule and sparked one of the largest brawls in sporting history. Barcelona faced Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey Final. Bad blood had already been instilled between the sides from when Andoni Goikoetxea hacked down Maradona the season before, breaking his ankle and earning himself the nickname. The butcher of Bilbao.

Maradona was out for revenge. Despite having scored twice against Bilbao in a fixture following his return from injury. That was not enough. When the sides met in the final, Bilbao ended winners. Filled with frustration, Maradona saw the red mist and attacked every Bilbao player that came his way. Ripped shirts, blood and broken bones were all present after the final whistle.

Maradona's left right goodnight combination knocked out a Bilbao player. With punches, knees and Kung-Fu kicks that Khabib and Jackie Chan would be proud of, Maradona and his teammates refused to leave the field until satisfied with the damage caused. Objects were launched from the stands and the violence continued amongst fans. This would be Maradona’s last game for Barcelona as he received a three month ban from Spanish football. A punishment he would not serve as he moved to Italy to become a gladiator in the Colosseum of Naples.