Soccer: 10 Biggest on and off-Field Brawls

Soccer, football, however you want to say it, is a passionate sport.

There's passion on the field as players know the significance of what's at stake; there's passion off the field as fans desperately want their team to win.

Passion is one of the things that makes the sport beautiful.

Yet sometimes, that same passion can overflow and manifest itself in ways that aren't positive. Basically, passion can cause fights.

Players, supporters, even coaches, can cause fights.

Here's the ten best on and off-field brawls in soccer history.

Honorable Mention: Olympiakos Relegation Riot

It may not be in the stadium, but after their side was relegated, angry Olympiakos Volos supporters took to the streets and police to show just how frustrated they were with this unfortunate outcome.

And they lit a fire.

So they must really be angry.

10. Eric Cantona's Flying Kick

Manchester United bad-boy Eric Cantona was sent off for fouling a player when on the pitch.

He thought he didn't quite get his money's worth the first time so he decided to have another go on one of the fans with this flying kung-fu kick.

9. Crazy Russian Fans Spark Seat Warfare

Something must have happened in this amateur soccer match in Russia to spark off the fans—what it actually was I guess we'll never know.

My first thought was about just how easy those seats came off. Probably should secure those better next time.

8. Houston Dynamo vs. Monterrey Pelea

I'm always impressed how quickly the substitutes manage to get on the field when a scuffle breaks out.

This fight between Dynamo and Monterrey is a wonderful example of this.

7. Time for Some Spanish Chaos

I have no idea what the commentator is saying, but I'm sure it's very insightful as to the nature and cause of these fights that encapsulate the 'passion' that exists throughout the footballing world.

6. Macclesfield vs. Wycombe

Seriously ref—stop blowing your whistle.

I don't think they're going to listen to you.

5. Cagliari vs. Bastia

Is it the greatest fight in the world?

Not by a long shot, but this match between Cagliari and Bastia makes the list for one simple reason.

This was a preseason game.

Commonly called a friendly.

4. Police vs. Fans

After a player runs the field, the police tackle him down and all appears finished.

But after watching the police repeatedly punch the man, fans behind the goal decided it was time to take matter in to their own hands and break up the police.

Who then run away.

3. Dumbest Ref in the World

Again, this is more funny than it is spectacular.

And if you're a referee, don't slap players in the face because you will have an angry mob of players running after you trying to trip you over.

Seriously—11 of them and one of him, and they still couldn't get him down.

2. Romanian Fan Takes It in to His Own Hands

Obviously not happy with the penalty decision, one brave fan decided to run on to the field and punch a player in the face who didn't even have anything to do with the penalty.

Bucharest players than began to deal out their own form of revenge on the fan, who was probably very lucky that police led him away when he did.

Galamaz suffered a broken cheek bone. The fan spent seven years in jail.

1. Egypt's Sorry Night

In perhaps the saddest night of world football, at least 80 people were killed and hundred more injured as the biggest riot ever took place in Egypt.

Sometimes it's funny to laugh at players shoving each other and referees running for their lives, but incidents like the one above show the serious side to fighting and the grave consequences that can result from it.

The night in Egypt is without doubt the worst fight in football history and must stand as an example that fans are never to take matters in to their own hands—regardless of their frustration.

We can only hope that football's sorry night will stand as a warning as to the consequences that can happen from fans fighting in professional sports.

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