Ian Wright remembers smashing the referee's locker room after a red card

When he suffered his first defeat of the season, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta was such a bad loser, that he delivered one of the worst post-match rants ever, prompting Martin Cassidy (chief executive of Ref Support UK) to call him the “Mercedes version of Neil Warnock” and criticize his statements about the refereeing against Newcastle. The Spanish tactician might even be punished by the FA (which is unlikely), but there were times when referees were even in a worst position than now. And another former Arsenal player was involved in one such incident.

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Gunners’ legend Ian Wright spoke to the Stick to Football podcast and remembered his incident after a red card in 1999, while playing for West Ham.

“I got sent-off against Leeds for West Ham. It was Ian Harte, I didn't catch him with the challenge, I know I didn't catch him but he went over and was rolling. It was one of those when you see someone see the red card and they look surprised. I felt so wronged that I lost all emotion. I lost all my composure and I started effing and blinding with him then I did the thing that you just don't do - chasing the ref to try and talk to the ref. I had two or three players stopping me, so because I couldn't get to him, I'm walking off and you'd think that was it, but then I kicked the referee's door in and smashed the room to bits. That was the emotion” remembers Wright.

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But the striker didn’t stop there. He was so mad, that he didn’t even left the TV untacked.

“I felt so wronged by the situation. The only thing I remember is coming back out after smashing the room to bits. I kicked the door in and you'd think that would have been it. But I went in, threw all their gear in the bath, threw the television against the wall and then, as I walked out, David Elleray was coming the other way. I didn't even take my kit off - I just took my gear off the peg and drove home. Then Harry Redknapp called me and said: "What the effing hell has gone on? I think I got fined about £18,000 for that” remembers the former Gunner. The league also gave him a three match ban, which is small, considering today’s fines. But on the other hand, you can get way even if you shove a ref these days. Just ask Bruno Fernandes…

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 12

Saturday

15.30: (3.40) Wolverhampton (3.60) Tottenham (2.20)

18.00: (1.37) Man.Utd. (4.90) Luton (8.50)

18.00: (2.55) Crystal Palace (3.25) Everton (3.10)

18.00: (1.20) Arsenal (6.75) Burnley (14.0)

19.30: (4.90) Bournemouth (3.60) Newcastle (1.75)

Sunday

17.00: (1.25) Brighton (7.00) Sheffield Utd (12.0)

17.00: (1.45) Liverpool (4.80) Brentford (8.00)

17.00: (1.90) West Ham (3.60) Nott.Forest (4.50)

17.00: (1.57) Aston Villa (4.00) Fulham (6.00)

19.30: (5.40) Chelsea (3.70) Man.City (1.75)

***odds are subject to change