Football’s Quarrels and Feuds, Part three

1- Paul van Himst and Luis Oliveira

Belgium Manager Paul van Himst axed Luis Oliveira from Belgium’s 1994 World Cup squad after Oliveira demanded an automatic starting position.

The furious van Himst made the analogy that if his own son ever asked him for a Porsche he would tell him to look for a new father.

Photo From: 90 minutes, March 19, 1994

(Belgium and Cagliari’s Luis Oliveira, 1993/94)

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, September 18-24, 1991

(Paul van Himst)

2- Eric Cantona and Henri Michel

On August 20, 1988, French striker Eric Cantona launched a verbal attack on National team manager henri Michel after he was omitted from the friendly match with Czechoslovakia on August 24, 1988 (one to one tie).

He called Michel a bag full of sh***.

He did apologize two days later, however, he was suspended indefinitely by the Federation.

He privately apologized to Henri Michel on August 29, 1988, nevertheless, on September 9, 1988,  the French Federation suspended him from the National team for the remainder of the season.

Photo From: Mondial, new series, Issue 106, January 1989

(Eric Cantona and actor Mickey Rourke, 1988)

Photo From: Mondial, new series, issue 84, March 1987

(Henri Michel)

3- Ruud Gullit and Rinus Michels

On December 4, 1991, Holland were due to play Greece at Salonika in their final European Championship qualifier that they had to win to qualify.

Ruud Gullit had back pain and wanted to withdraw. Dutch Manager Rinus Michels insisted on Gullit playing with painkillers.

After a heated argument, Gullit stayed in the dressing room and did not even watch the match (the Dutch won 2 to 0).

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 70, November 1994

(Ruud Gullit with AC Milan, 1990/91) 

Photo From: Het Nederlands Elftal, De Histoire van Oranje, 1905-1989, Author Matty Verkamman

(Rinus Michels lifting the European Championship trophy, June 25, 1988, European Championships, Holland 2-USSR 0)

4- Sa Pinto and Arthur Jorge/Rui Aguas

On March 26, 1997, Portugal National Team Manager Arthur Jorge was confronted by Ricardo Sa Pinto.

Sa Pinto had been angry about being dropped from the squad for the World Cup Qualifier vs. Northern Ireland on March 29, 2997.

The angry Sa Pinto physically attacked and punched Assistant Manager Rui Aguas.

On April 1, 1997, Sa Pinto was fined 20,000 GBP and on April 4, he was suspended indefinitely.

He was subsequently banned one year by the Portuguese Federation and that decision was affirmed by FIFA as well.

Photo From: World Soccer, May 1997

(Sa Pinto punching Aguas with Arthur Jorge on the left trying to intervene)

5- Willy van der Kuylen/Jan van Beveren and Johann Cruyff

On at least two separate occasions PSV Eindhoven pair of goalkeeper Jan van Beveren and Forward Willy van der Kuylen withdrew from the Dutch national team because of their differences with Johann Cruyff.

Before Holland’s EC qualifier vs. Poland on October 15, 1975, (3 to 0 Holland win), the pair withdrew from the squad upon hearing that Johann Cruyff and Johann Neeskens would be included and playing.

Piet Schrijvers and Frans Thijssen had to be called up as replacements.

Then prior to the European Championship semifinal vs. Czechoslovakia on June 16, 1976 (1 to 3 Czech win), Jan van Beveren and Willy van der Kuylen withdrew the squad because they felt that Johan Cruyff wielded too much influence. 

Photo From: Onze, Issue 47, November 1979

(Jan van Beveren)

Photo From: Voetbal International, February 28-March 5, 1977

(Willy van der Kuylen)