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| Cantona being taken away. |
Eric Cantona has been arrested and cautioned by police after the Manchester United legend assaulted a man in London.
The incident is understood to have taken place in the Primrose Hill area of the capital on Wednesday lunchtime. It is unclear what caused the altercation or whether the victim – who did
not need medical treatment – is planning to press charges.
The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement saying: ‘Police were called to Regents Park
Road, NW1, at 12.55pm on Wednesday 12th March, following reports of an assault.  |
| Cantona being interviewed by a Police man |
'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.'
Cantona, 47, was arrested and convicted of assault in 1995 for his infamous kung-fu attack on a Crystal Palace fan who abused the Frenchman after he was sent off for booting defender Richard Shaw in a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.
Cantona received a two-week prison sentence, although that was later reduced to 120 hours community service on appeal. He was also banned for eight months by the FA and fined a total of £30,000.
Passersby say the Frenchman initially refused to stop and talk with an initial officer who had to step in front of him to bring him to a halt.
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| Cantona and his famous Kung Fu kick at Crystal palace |
Photographer Amari-Jade Robinson was driving past the scene near Regent's Park and initially thought the uniformed policeman was a fan.
He said: 'I thought he might be a fan and wanted to just speak to him.
'My window was wound down and I said out loud "I think that's Eric Cantona" and he looked round to me when I said it so I knew it was him.
'I was stopped in traffic for around three minutes and at first I didn't think he was getting in trouble, but then he seemed to be a bit frustrated.
'He attempted to walk away and looked a bit frustrated but the officer went in front of him. He was side stepping to block him.
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| Celebrating happier times with Schmichel for Man united |
'He seemed a bit frustrated at first, moving his arms, but then he seemed to calm down and talk to the officer - it looked like he was trying to explain something.'
Cantona had a troubled history even before his arrival in English football. In 1987, he was fined for punching his Auxerre team-mate, goalkeeper Bruno Martini.
Then, while on loan at Montpellier, he was banned from the club’s ground for 10 days for throwing his boots in the face of teammate Jean-Claude Lemoult following a bust-up.
He was also suspended by Marseille for angrily kicking a ball into the crowd and throwing his shirt at the referee after being substituted during a friendly against Torpedo Moscow in 1989.