Eric Cantona has been arrested and cautioned by police after the Manchester United legend assaulted a man in London.
The trouble occurred when the Frenchman was drinking outside a London pub with a mystery brunette on Wednesday.
Focus of attention: Eric Cantona and his companion drink beer in the sunshine moments before the flare-up
Making a quick exit: The mystery brunette leaves the scene
Cantona appeared deep in conversation with his companion as they drank beer in the sunshine.
But
seconds after being spotted by a paparazzo, Cantona lashed out. Police
were called to The Queens pub in Primrose Hill after the photographer
was punched in the face.
The
47-year-old, a married father of two, was arrested and bundled into a
police car. He was taken to a North London police station and held for
more than six hours before accepting a caution.
Having his collar felt: Cantona is taken away by police
Witnesses said his companion went inside the pub and waited before leaving through another door.
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.
'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.'
Nicked! Cantona steps into the police car after being arrested in north London
Excuse me, Mr Officer: Cantona talks with a policeman following an altercation in London
Watering hole: Cantona had been drinking at The Queens pub before the altercation took place
In the dock: Cantona was arrested following an assault on a man in London
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.
Kung-fu kick: This was the now infamous moment when Cantona attacked a Palace fan in 1995
Face the music: Cantona with then United boss Ferguson as they arrive for an FA hearing in February 1995
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.
Red alert: Cantona was a catalyst for United's huge success in the 1990s and beyond
'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.
Cup of joy: Cantona won four Premier League crowns and the FA Cup twice - including this win in 1996
Simply the best: Cantona (left) with Nicky Butt,
Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Phil Neville (on floor), Gary Neville, Paul
Scholes and Roy Keane with the 1997 Premier League trophy
Eric Cantona's infamous Nike cage advert
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