Player dubbed ‘Goole Cantona’ for fan confrontation faces FA charge

Former Goole FC defender Karl Colley, 30, is facing the disciplinary charge after he appeared to throw a punch at the Coalville Town supporter after entering a stand at the weekend.

He was dubbed “Goole’s Cantona” following the incident on Saturday, 19 years on from the then Manchester United star’s French striker’s kung-fu kick at a Crystal Palace fan during a 
game.

The FA confirmed yesterday that Colley, a former Newcastle youth player who was sacked by Goole after the game, has been charged for improper conduct for his behaviour and would have seven days in which to respond. Cantona was banned for eight months in 1995, while he was also given a community service order, although there is no evidence of a complaint made to the police about Colley.

Video footage of the incident, which happened during Goole’s home game in the Evo-Stik South league after Colley was sent off for a lunge on Cameron Stuart, immediately went viral on the internet. Two days later, Goole manager David Holdsworth left the club – a decision which was said not to be linked Colley’s actions.

Coalville chairman Glyn Rennocks was in the stand of Goole’s Victoria Pleasure Grounds stadium when the incident happened and watched as Colley ran towards the same supporter three times, seemingly throwing a punch on the second occasion. Mr Rennocks claimed there had been no provocation but Colley maintained that was not the case.