Eric Cantona Arrested by Police for Allegedly Assaulting Man in London

Eric Cantona has been arrested and cautioned by the Metropolitan Police after allegedly assaulting a man in London.

The Telegraph's Ben Rumsby discloses that the incident occurred on Wednesday, March 12, in the Primrose Hill area, and that it's currently unknown as to whether the victim of the ex-Manchester United striker was seeking to press charges.

A Metropolitan Police statement reads:

"

Police were called to Regents Park Road, NW1, at 12.55pm on Wednesday 12th March, following reports of an assault. Officers from Camden Borough attended and a man in his mid-40s was arrested on suspicion of common assault.

He was taken into custody and subsequently cautioned for common assault. The victim, a man, did not require medical assistance at the scene.

"

It's not the first time that Cantona has been involved in a physical altercation in the nation's capital, after being convicted of assault for kicking Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons during a Premier League match in January 1995.

As Rumsby details, Cantona was initially sentenced to two weeks in prison for the assault, before seeing the sentence reduced to 120 hours of community service. The Football Association didn't look kindly upon the matter, either, handing the Frenchman an eight-month ban and a £10,000 fine to go along with the £20,000 fine and four-month suspension given to him by United.

So infamous is Cantona's 1995 debacle that the incident is still referenced in modern times, with the Evening Chronicle's James Hunter using the incident as a benchmark for Alan Pardew's recent suspension:

After retiring from the professional game in 1997, Cantona went on to play for and coach the French beach soccer team in numerous World Cups, but is most famous for the acting pursuits undertaken in his post-playing days.

As well as featuring for Nike in numerous advertisements for the brand, Cantona has appeared in a raft of French-speaking films, but found his most prominent role in 2009's Looking For Eric.

The former Premier League sensation has always held a reputation as possessing a fiery side, both on and off the pitch, and this latest incident presumably gives the 47-year-old yet more reason to have some less than fond memories of London.