I See Red: Notorious moments in sporting history

Hungarian water-polo player Ervin Zador after having been wounded during a clash with USSR team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Picture / Getty Im

1. Eric, you forgot your dogi

The man who now preaches the "beautiful game" as frontman for Nike's Joga Bonito campaign and is against diving was guilty of far more unsportsmanlike behaviour during his playing career. His most infamous incident came in 1995 when he responded to an insult from a fan with a flying karate kick. Another far-from-beautiful Eric Cantona moment involved the Frenchman punching his own goalkeeper in 1987.

2. Vinnie's three-second-rule

The man who has became famous for his "hard man" image on the big screen earned this reputation on the football field. The self-acclaimed tough guy's maddest moment came when he was playing for Wimbledon against Newcastle in 1987. Jones, who played the ferocious Big Chris in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, was sent off after just three seconds for giving Paul Gascoigne an instruction on castration by grabbing his family jewels.

3. How Evander got his ears pierced

In the most notorious bout in boxing, Mike "I wanna eat his children" Tyson showed his cannibalistic charm by biting Holyfield's ears. Tyson was finally disqualified by referee Mills Lane after taking a second bite. A ring attendant handed almost an inch of Holyfield's right ear to the boxer's handlers after the bout.

4. It had nothing to do with the Falklands

At just 18 years old, Argentine prop Federico Mendez was trying to make his mark in test rugby in 1990. And he did. Mendez king-hit English lock Paul Ackford during a stop in play with one of the cleanest punches you will ever see. Amazingly, he was supposed to dish it out to prop Jeff Probyn, who Mendez claims stomped on him.

5. Johan Le Roux

In the second of our ear-biting instalments we recall the second test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Athletic Park in 1994. Le Roux tried to get one over Fitzpatrick where he thought no one could see him. Le Roux took a bite out of the hookers' ear and received an 18-month suspension for the act.

He commented later that he should have bitten the whole ear off to deserve the ban.

6. Ron Artest

Although without the grace of Cantona, Artest also felt the need to take on rival fans in what has become known as the "Malice at the Palace". Artest's actions followed an altercation between the small forward and Pistons' centre Ben Wallace. A fan then threw a cup at Artest and he responded by storming the stands and punching who he mistakenly believed was responsible for the incident. Artest was banned for the remainder of the season, the biggest non-drug related suspension in NBA history.

7. Blood in the water

On the back of the Soviet Union's invasion of Hungary, one of the most infamous water polo matches took place at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. One of the best players in the history of the sport, Hungarian Ervin Zadorwas punched in the face during the match by the Soviet's Valentin Prokopo after Hungary took a 4-0 lead. The punch cut the Hungarian under his right eye, with the resulting blood and skirmishes giving the match its "blood in the water" name.

8. Skating on thin ice

Among several gruesome incidents on the ice, one of the most shocking came during game four of the Stanley Cup finals in 1927. Boston Bruin player Billy Coutu became the first man to be banned from the NHL for life when he punched referee Jerry LaFlamme during a brawl with the Ottawa Senators. The punch was supposedly delivered at the request of Boston coach Art Ross, but this didn't prevent Coutu receiving the life ban.

9. The meltdown on Mt Panorama

After a crash at Bathurst in 2005 which further entrenched the Holden v Ford divide, Greg Murphy and Marcos Ambrose exchanged words and eye-balled each other at Mt Panorama. Not the best of friends throughout their rivalry, the accident highlighted how much each driver disliked the other. Both accused the other of causing the crash and the feud carried on for the rest of the season. It is one of many bust-ups between drivers, following on from 2003 when Russell Ingall motioned to run over a disgusted Mark Skaife.

10. When cockroach meets cane toad

One of the most famous confrontations in State of Origin history took place after the ever-controversial Geyer tried to get under the skin of the Queenslanders and King Wally in 1991. Lewis objected to several high shots from Geyer in the first half and decided to confront the much taller New South Welshman. The two players exchanged a few heated words while referee David Manson tried his best to keep the duo apart but was helpless in preventing the eventual punch up.