Former Preston North End striker Eddie Johnson punched the manager of a rival team in the face celebrating his side’s win.
The American, who now plays for Seattle Sounders in Major League Soccer, was caught on camera punching San Jose Earthquakes’ defender Jed Zayner following a flare-up at the end of his side’s 1-0 US Open Cup win.
The incident started when Johnson celebrated in front of the San Jose bench at the final whistle.
The 28-year-old played 16 times for the Deepdale club having been signed on loan from Premier League Fulham by then-manager Phil Brown in 2011.
Following the match, Zayner told reporters: “To have a guy who’s played on the national team and is supposedly a professional celebrate in front of our bench, which is wrong, and then to hit me.
“It’s unbelievable.”
Team-mate Chris Wondolowski added: “Eddie Johnson was celebrating in front of our bench and yelling at our fans, and Jed told him just go do it over on his side and he took a swing and hit Jed in the eye.”
http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end-news/ex-pne-striker-punches-rival-1-4685827
