Colombia’s Copa America semi-final win over Uruguay ended in chaos on Wednesday night when Darwin Nunez jumped into the crowd and threw punches at fans of the opposing team.
Believe it or not, the Liverpool striker is not the first sports star to trade blows with spectators.
Over the years, countless athletes have let the red mist descend and brawled with fans in stadiums, with most receiving heavy fines and suspensions as a result.
But what are the five wildest fights between players and fans in the history of the sport?
DailyMail.com has taken a look at the most astonishing of all, including an infamous kung-fu kick.
Colombia’s Copa America semi-final win over Uruguay ended in chaos when Darwin Nunez (centre) jumped into the crowd and threw punches at opposing fans.
Malice in the palace
In November 2004, the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons were at the center of a brawl that remains the most infamous in NBA history.
The Pacers were leading 97-82 in Detroit with 45.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Pistons center Ben Wallace was fouled by Ron Artest and reacted by pushing him onto the court.
A fight then broke out between both teams as tempers flared throughout the night, before the madness seemed to calm down as officials began discussing the possible ramifications.
But it was at that moment that all hell broke loose.
While lying on the scorer’s table waiting for an interview, Artest was hit with a drink from the stands by a fan named John Green, who was subsequently attacked by the Pacers forward.
Artest jumped up and lunged into the crowd, only to mistakenly grab another fan, Michael Ryan, and throw him to the ground after mistaking him for Green.
Ron Artest (left) was at the center of the worst brawl in NBA history when he lunged into the crowd during the Pacers’ game against the Pistons and fought with fans.
Nine players were banned for a total of 146 matches, while five of them and as many fans even faced assault charges after ‘Malice at the Palace’.
More drinks were thrown and punches were thrown in the stands as chaos ensued, and the game was immediately suspended after police were called to the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Following the ‘Malice at the Palace’, nine players were suspended for a total of 146 games, including Artest and Wallace, with an estimated loss of $11 million in salary. Five players and as many fans were charged with assault, and the fans were also banned for life from playing home games with the Pistons.
Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is not only remembered as a true genius with the ball at his feet, but he also remains one of the greatest enigmas to ever grace the Premier League.
The controversial Frenchman’s most infamous performance came on 25 January 1995, after he was sent off for kicking an opposing player during United’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
As he left the pitch, a home fan ran down the steps of Selhurst Park to jeer him from the stands, sparking one of the most astonishing moments in English football history.
Cantona, outraged by what he had heard from the crowd, jumped up and gave the fan a Kung-fu kick in an image that still defies belief.
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona infamously kicked a fan with a kung-fu kick in 1995
After later admitting to a charge of criminal assault, the striker was sentenced to community service and served an eight-match suspension, as well as paying a £30,000 ($39,000) fine.
He also sat down before the media to address the scandal and uttered one of the most mysterious phrases of all time: “When the seagulls follow the fishing boat it is because they think they are going to throw sardines into the sea. Thank you very much.”
The Bruins enter the stands
Hockey is famous for allowing its players to trade blows on the ice, but in December 1979, members of the Boston Bruins team memorably left the Madison Square Garden rink to trade blows with spectators.
During their game against the New York Rangers, Bruins forward Stan Johnathan was hit in the head with a program by a fan who also stole his stick.
Following the assault and robbery of their teammate, the enraged Boston players jumped over the glass and went after the fan, identified as Johnathan Kaptain.
Terry O’Reilly was the first to chase Kaptain into the stands before more of his teammates followed as they attempted to retrieve Johnathan’s stick, leading to an astonishing brawl between the Bruins and several members of the crowd.
Kaptain eventually managed to escape from O’Reilly, but Peter McNab and Mike Milbury chased him down and wrestled him to the ground. Milbury then hit him with his own shoe before throwing him to the ice.
Kaptain, along with his father, brother and friend, were charged with disorderly conduct before the charge was eventually dropped.
Although fans decided not to press charges against the players who stormed the stands, O’Reilly was suspended for eight games, while Milbury and McNab were suspended for six. They were all also fined $500.
Vieira kicks
While this was long after his playing career ended, Patrick Vieira lost his cool when an Everton fan confronted him and goaded him into being Crystal Palace manager in 2022.
After coming back from two goals down to claim a late 3-2 victory that preserved their Premier League status, Everton fans invaded the pitch in jubilant scenes at Goodison Park.
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira (centre) was sent off against an Everton fan when he was manager of Crystal Palace
Vieira lost his cool after being confronted and provoked by an Everton fan who invaded the pitch.
As he tried to escape the celebrations, Vieira came face to face with a home fan who shoved a camera in his face while hurling abuse, prompting a furious reaction from the Palace manager.
Vieira initially attempted to ignore the fan before kicking him in frustration and causing him to fall to the ground, and then other supporters appeared to confront him in a series of shocking events.
Despite footage of the incident going viral, Merseyside Police announced shortly afterwards that they would not be taking the matter any further, before the English Football Association followed suit.
Lakovic defends his coach
The NHL’s Battle of Alberta, a historic rivalry between the Canadian cities of Edmonton and Calgary, is typically an intense affair.
However, no night was more dramatic than Nov. 23, 1996, when an Oilers fan caused chaos by leaning over his glass and pouring a beer on Flames assistant coach Guy Lapointe.
While Lapointe attempted to retaliate by punching the fan in question, the most savage reaction came from Flames enforcer Sasha Lakovic, who skated over and jumped headfirst through the glass in an attempt to defend his coach.
As violent scenes broke out in the stands, local police were called in an attempt to restore order, before the Oilers managed to seal a 3-2 victory.
The fan was banned from the Edmonton Coliseum for life, and Lakovic was suspended for two games for the incident.
