When Teammates Explode: Ranking the Most Infamous Cases of Players Attacking Their Own

Posted : 28 November 2025

Everton’s match against Manchester United delivered an unusual moment rarely seen on live television — and not because of the final score. In the 13th minute, Idrissa Gueye shocked viewers by slapping teammate Michael Keane, an incident that looked like it belonged in a soap opera rather than a Premier League fixture. The midfielder was sent off immediately, highlighting the simple rule that even in football, hitting your own teammate is strictly forbidden. His outburst brings back memories of some of the most notorious clashes between teammates across various sports. Here are some of the most memorable — and bizarre — cases.

Gilbert Arenas vs. Javaris Crittenton | 2009

What began as a dispute over a $1,100 gambling debt turned the Washington Wizards’ locker room into a scene from an old Western. Gilbert Arenas reportedly brought three loaded guns to confront teammate Javaris Crittenton, who replied with a gun of his own. Though they later insisted the confrontation was laced with dark humor, their teammates certainly weren’t laughing as they scrambled to take cover. Both players were suspended for the remainder of the NBA season once the incident became public.

Kieron Dyer vs. Lee Bowyer | 2005

Newcastle United’s season took an unforgettable turn when Dyer and Bowyer began trading punches during a 3–0 loss to Aston Villa — even though the ball was nowhere near them. The fight escalated so quickly that opposing players had to intervene. Reports suggested Bowyer landed several punches before they were separated. Both players apologized after the match, and the story has since become a staple of football podcasts nearly two decades later.

Draymond Green vs. Jordan Poole | 2022
Draymond Green has had his share of heated encounters, but the punch he landed on teammate Jordan Poole during a 2022 Golden State Warriors practice became one of his most talked-about moments. Despite attempts to frame it as “competitive tension,” the leaked video told a much simpler story: Green lost his temper, and Poole took the hit.

Franck Ribéry vs. Arjen Robben | 2012
Despite forming one of football’s most feared wing partnerships, Ribéry and Robben occasionally clashed behind the scenes. Their disagreements boiled over during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, when an argument over a free kick led to pushing on the pitch — and a punch in the dressing room. Ribéry struck Robben, leaving him with a visible bruise. Though Robben briefly considered leaving Bayern, the two eventually reconciled and continued their successful partnership.

John Hartson vs. Eyal Berkovic | 1998
A grainy training-ground video from 1998 captured one of the most infamous teammate altercations in Premier League history. West Ham striker John Hartson kicked midfielder Eyal Berkovic square in the face after a brief dispute during practice. Berkovic, known for his sharp tongue, was blameless in this instance, while Hartson later admitted it was the worst mistake of his career. Berkovic later joked, “If my head were a ball, it would have flown right into the top corner.”

When Teammates Explode: Ranking the Most Infamous Cases of Players Attacking Their Own

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