Home World Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment “When the seagulls follow the trawler…” was almost 30 years after confusing football fans

Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment “When the seagulls follow the trawler…” was almost 30 years after confusing football fans

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Cantona delivered the spot-kick that made headlines around the world in an away match for United against Crystal Palace in January 1995.

“When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think that sardines are going to be thrown into the sea.”

It’s a phrase that has left football pundits around the world perplexed for almost three decades, trying to decode the hidden sentiment behind it.

But Eric Cantona has now revealed that the cryptic comment, made after being ordered to explain his famous ‘kung fu kick’ on a rude Crystal Palace fan in 1995, was nothing more than first thing that came to his mind.

The former Manchester United striker, who since hanging up his boots has broken new ground as an actor, photographer and singer, said there was no deep philosophical meaning behind the comment.

Instead, it was simply an impulsive, nonsensical statement designed to throw off journalists at a press conference he didn’t want to attend.

And his silence on the issue over the past 29 years was a form of “revenge” to frustrate the media who he believed had gone too far in vilifying him for standing up to abuse.

Speaking to French chat show C dans l’air this week, Cantona said: “I didn’t want to but (Manchester United) said it was important that you speak to the press.

“So I said, OK, I’ll talk to the press, in the sense that they want me to talk – I’ll say anything.

“You know, (the press) destroyed me. But in a way, I got my revenge. They were all trying to make sense of it and they all asked me to explain and I didn’t say anything.

Cantona delivered the spot-kick that made headlines around the world in an away match for United against Crystal Palace in January 1995.

Cantona delivered the spot-kick that made headlines around the world in an away match for United against Crystal Palace in January 1995.

In a fit of rage, Cantona sprinted towards the stands and jumped over the barrier, unleashing a perfectly placed kick with his hobnailed boots at abusive Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

In a fit of rage, Cantona sprinted towards the stands and jumped over the barrier, unleashing a perfectly placed kick with his hobnailed boots at abusive Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

In a fit of rage, Cantona sprinted towards the stands and jumped over the barrier, unleashing a perfectly placed kick with his hobnailed boots at abusive Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons.

1711636294 562 Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment When the

1711636294 562 Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment When the

Cantona revealed that his cryptic comment, made after being ordered to explain his famous “kung fu kick”, was nothing more than the first thing that came to his mind.

Cantona delivered the spot-kick that made headlines around the world in an away match for United against Crystal Palace in January 1995.

After being sent off for a challenge on Palace defender Richard Shaw, Cantona was leaving the pitch towards the changing rooms in the corner of Selhurst Park when he heard Palace fan Matthew Simmons launch a foul-mouthed tirade in his direction.

In a fit of rage, Cantona sprinted to the stands and jumped over the barrier, landing a perfectly placed kick with his studded boots and cracking Simmons with a few well-aimed punches before being taken away.

Simmons, a 20-year-old self-employed glazier at the time, was sentenced to seven days in prison for threatening and abusive behavior and his season ticket was canceled by Palace for “breaking basic rules”.

But he was suspended by his club, stripped of his post as captain of the France team and banned from football for nine months.

He was initially sentenced to prison, but managed to have his sentence reduced to community service on appeal.

Speaking in 2021, Cantona said he had no remorse for the kick and that if anything he could have inflicted more damage.

“I have been insulted thousands of times and I have never reacted, but sometimes we are fragile.

“I have one regret. I wish I had kicked him even harder. I was banned for nine months. They wanted me to be an example,” he said.

In a separate interview with the BBC’s Football Focus, Cantona called the spot-kick the highlight of his illustrious career.

“I kung fu kicked the thug, because those kinds of people don’t have to be at the match.

“I think maybe it’s like a dream for some, you know, sometimes, to kick those kinds of people. So I did it for them. So they are happy. It’s a kind of freedom for them.

“It’s a great feeling, but different.”

But even then he refused to talk about his false philosophical statement, which he made to the press after his appeal hearing at Croydon Crown Court.

Eric Cantona is released from Croydon Crown Court after a judge overturned his 14-day prison sentence and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service

Eric Cantona is released from Croydon Crown Court after a judge overturned his 14-day prison sentence and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service

Eric Cantona is released from Croydon Crown Court after a judge overturned his 14-day prison sentence and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of community service

Cantona finally explained his comment during an interview with French talk show C dans l'air

Cantona finally explained his comment during an interview with French talk show C dans l'air

Cantona finally explained his comment during an interview with French talk show C dans l’air

1711636296 689 Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment When the

1711636296 689 Eric Cantona FINALLY explains what his famous comment When the

The comment itself has become part of the lyrics of his song “I Love You So Much”, a song he says is dedicated to the city and people of Manchester.

During his interview on C dans l’air, where he performed a song from his new album “Cantona chante Eric”, the former footballer declared: “They wanted me to speak, I spoke. He just came out and then I left. And the press, they all tried to make sense of it and make it all philosophical.

“You know, it came out like that; maybe it came from my subconscious and maybe subconsciously it created meaning, but the best meaning was, you make me talk, I talk and it doesn’t matter if the words have meaning.

The comment itself has now become part of the lyrics of his song “I love you so much”, a track he says is dedicated to the city and people of Manchester.

“(The people of Manchester) gave me so much, I wanted to give something back,” he told the talk show.

“Manchester in the 1990s was Manchester United… We were rock stars. I grew up, I spent time with the club that succeeded and won after 26 years without titles, it was a city ​​full of hope and this is still the case today.

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