Football’s Quarrels and Feuds, Part Fifteen

1- Gerd Muller and Pal Csernai/Sepp Maier, 1978/79

In the Spring of 1979, Gerd Muller left Bayern Munich after a dispute with Manager Pal Csernai.

As a parting shot, he declared that Stuttgart’s Helmut Roleder was the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga. This was a parting shot at teammate Sepp Maier, who had sided with Csernai.

Photo From: Fussball Magazin, February March 1978

(Gerd Muller (on the left) and Sepp Maier (on the right))

 Photo From: Fussball Magazin, Issue 2, March April 1980

(Pal Csernai)

2- Hugo Sanchez and Michel, 1989

During the 1989/90 season, it was revealed that Real Madrid teammates Hugo Sanchez and Michel had not spoken to one another for over two years.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 57, October 1993

(Hugo Sanchez)

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 14, March 1990

(Michel)

3- Moreno Roggi and Mario Cecchi Gori, 1991

On June 14, 1991, Moreno Roggi quit his post as General Manager of Fiorentina following a dispute with club President Mario Cecchi Gori.
Moreno Roggi had wanted to acquire defender Marco Baroni from Napoli and Cecchi Gori had felt the £5 Million transfer fee was excessive.

Photo From: 1974-75 Calciatori Panini

(Moreno Roggi as a Fiorentina player)

Photo From: 1988-89 Calciatori Panini

(Marco Baroni as a Lecce player)

Photo From: World Soccer, August 1992

(Brian Laudrup and Fiorentina President Mario Cecchi Gori)

4- Brazil and Chile, 1987 thru 1989

Footballing relations between Brazil and Chile had been strained for some time in the late 80s. Brazil’s humiliation at the 1987 Copa America (0-4 loss) had been followed with the ill-tempered 1989 World Cup qualifiers that had resulted in the sending offs of Romario and Hisis in the first leg, as well as the fake-injury/firecracker incident of Roberto Rojas that had led to Chile’s suspension from the 1994 World Cup.

Two friendlies were arranged in 1990, one in Santiago on October 17^th and the other at Belém on November 8^th.

The matches were looked upon as ‘diplomatic’ matches and both scoreless results were satisfactory given the circumstances.

Photo From: Placar, Issue 893, July 13, 1987 

(Antonio Careca, July 3, 1987, Copa America, Chile 4-Brazil 0)

Photo From: Foot Magazine, October 1989 

(Photos that appeared at Brazil’s Placar Magazine, showing the trickery)

5- Pascal Olmeta and Jean-Luc Sassus, December 1996

On December 20^th, 1996, following Olympique Lyonnais’ match vs. Nantes at home (0-1 Lyon loss), Lyon goalkeeper Pascal Olmeta punched his clubmate and friend Jean-Luc Sassus. It later emerged the source of tension was a woman.

Apparently, Sassus forgave Olmeta, however, the Lyon Management fired Olmeta for his action. He was shortly thereafter transferred to RCD Espanyol.

Photo From: 1996-97 Panini Foot

(Pascal Olmeta and Jean-Luc Sassus at Olympique Lyonnais, 1996/97)