Cantona overheats again By Robert Shaw (Filed: 21/02/2003)
Eric Cantona returned to the spotlight yesterday after his infamously fiery temper boiled over at the World Beach Soccer Championships in Rio de Janeiro. The former Manchester United star, whose 1995 kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan landed him with an eight-month ban, overheated again as France lost 6-5 to Uruguay on Wednesday. Cantona, France's player-manager at the tournament, was incensed by several refereeing decisions and had to be restrained by team-mates as he confronted a match official and members of the Uruguayan coaching staff after an ill-tempered game. According to an eyewitness, one of the Uruguayans on the touchline was struck during the ensuing melee. The bad feeling spread to Uruguay's changing area where a scuffle broke out with French players. As a result of these incidents, a tournament spokesman announced yesterday: "We have issued a formal warning to Eric Cantona about his behaviour." He added that French goalkeeper Pascal Omerta had been suspended for two matches and Uruguay's coach Enrique Belo for one. Cantona, who won a championship medal with Leeds United before achieving legendary status at Old Trafford, caused astonishment five years ago when he suddenly retired from English football at the age of only 31. Subsequently he was voted United's favourite player of all time in a supporters' poll run by a club magazine. He had suggested earlier this week that "playing on sand instead of grass doesn't change anything for me". It certainly has not altered his tendancy to attract controversy. *************************************** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
