Training ground bust-ups over the years

Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez stole the headlines after their altercation during England training last Monday.  The bust-up led to Sterling being dropped from the side that faced Montenegro, and left the Liverpool defender with a scratch under his right eye.  This incident has prompted a look at some of the memorable training ground collisions collissionough the years.

Balotelli vs Mancini

Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City career was acrimonious almost from start to finish. Things came to a head in January 2013 when he was pictured in an apparent training ground bust-up with coach Roberto Mancini, apparently sparked by a late tackle on Scott Sinclair. Mancini grabbing Balotelli’s bib painted an unflattering picture before the player was offloaded just a few weeks later. Mancini has since explained: “I grabbed him by the collar wanting to push him but he is so strong physically I couldn’t move him. From seeing the pictures, you would think that we came to blows but nothing happened.”

McCarthy vs Keane

Ireland’s World Cup campaign in 2002 was over before it had begun when captain and star man Roy Keane sensationally quit following a huge disagreement with manager Mick McCarthy. Keane was unhappy with preparations on the island of Saipan, and listed his concerns with an Irish newspaper. McCarthy was enraged and confronted his skipper, who responded with a tirade of his own:“Mick, you’re a liar … you’re a f****** w*****. I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager, and I don’t rate you as a person.”

Barton vs Dabo

In 2008, Joey Barton (pictured) pleaded guilty to a violent attack on team-mate Ousmane Dabo during a training session a year earlier. The midfielder knocked his French team-mate out during a row at Manchester City’s training ground after they had squared up to each other. Dabo was said to have pushed Barton’s shoulder with both hands only to be punched in the head. The Frenchman fell to the ground and lost consciousness but Barton continued to punch him while lying on top of him. Dabo suffered a detached retina while Barton was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence.

Gravesen vs Robinho

Never get on the wrong side of Thomas Gravesen. Robinho found that to his cost back in 2006. Tempers flared after a typically ill-timed challenge from the Dane on Ronbinho during a pre-season training session. The Brazilian took exception, leading Gravesen to take exception himself and throw punches in the direction of his team-mate.

Domenech vs French stars

France’s World Cup mutiny in 2010 has gone down in legend. Thierry Henry refused to come on during a group stage defeat by Mexico and Nicolas Anelka was sent home after questioning the tactics of Raymond Domenech at half-time. It followed a goalless draw with Uruguay, with France heading for an early exit. Things went from bad to worse in the build-up to their showdown with hosts South Africa.

France refused to train in protest against Anelka’s expulsion, before captain Patrice Evra became embroiled in a public spat with fitness coach Robert Duverne. 

McCarthy vs Hughes

South African striker Benni McCarthy had a spectacular bust-up with his Blackburn manager Mark Hughes in December 2007 and there were fears that the player could leave the club. McCarthy was replaced on 61 minutes by Jason Roberts during an English Premier League match against Newcastle and responded by charging down the tunnel and into the dressing room. It subsequently emerged that McCarthy left in a huff, getting into his car and racing away from the stadium. However, Hughes later cooled off the situation, terming it a small misunderstanding and the pair later patched up things.  

Conte vs Costa

Things were bound to get fiery between Antonio Conte and Diego Costa at Chelsea. And they came to a head in January 2017 when the striker had his head turned by the prospect of a big-money move to China. He did not train with the rest of the squad after a bust up over an injury with a club fitness coach, and was then dropped by Conte. The Italian reportedly shouted at him “Go to China” during a heated exchange. Costa was rehabilitated and helped fire Chelsea to the title, but was then informed by Conte that he was not part of plans any longer by text message that summer.

Kamara vs Mitrovic

Aleksandr Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had to be separated by Fulham team-mates after a fight during a yoga session in January this year. The pair had come to blows on the field just weeks earlier when Kamara wrestled the ball off Mitrovic in order to take a penalty. The pair were at each other’s throats as Mitrovic thought Kamara was rude to the yoga teacher. 

Conte vs Costa

Things were bound to get fiery between Antonio Conte and Diego Costa at Chelsea. And they came to a head in January 2017 when the striker had his head turned by the prospect of a big-money move to China. He did not train with the rest of the squad after a bust up over an injury with a club fitness coach, and was then dropped by Conte. The Italian reportedly shouted at him “Go to China” during a heated exchange. Costa was rehabilitated and helped fire Chelsea to the title, but was then informed by Conte that he was not part of plans any longer by text message that summer.

Ljungberg vs Mellberg

Another World Cup bust-up, this time from 2002 ahead of Sweden’s opening match with England. Freddie Ljungberg retaliated angrily when Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg chopped him down with a late tackle at the squad’s Miyazaki base. He leapt to his feet and grabbed his team-mate by the throat before they wrestled each other to the ground, with TV cameras capturing the extraordinary incident in its entirety. They were eventually separated by Daniel Andersson, and Mellberg said afterwards: ‘Of course I regret it. You can’t put a positive spin on what I did.”