by Guest Sun Jan 23, 2011 12:00 am
Muscat was branded a “lowlife” and a “nobody” by ex-England striker Ian Wright, then of Nottingham Forest, in September 1999. Wright claimed he was about to shoot when he heard Dougie Freedman,
Forest's other striker, shout "leave it". Wright stepped over the ball
to allow Freedman to hit it, but instead Muscat (who had, according to
Wright, merely impersonated Freedman) appeared to clear the ball.[11]
Muscat was dubbed the "most hated man in football" by then Birmingham City player Martin Grainger in 2000.[12] He seriously injured both Craig Bellamy and Christophe Dugarry, the latter in a friendly international between Australia and France in 2001 with a sliding tackle from behind.[12] The French manager Roger Lemerre dubbed the tackle "an act of brutality".[12][13]
According to former players and administration, Muscat’s temperament was the reason he was never selected for inclusion in an Old Firm encounter during the season he was at Rangers.[14]
In 2004, a lawsuit on Muscat brought by former Charlton player Matty Holmes
resulted in a settlement of £250,000 plus costs in favour of Holmes,
bringing the estimated settlement to around £750,000. Holmes had to have
four operations on his leg following a tackle by Muscat in 1998, and
there were initial fears that his leg might have to be amputated. The
claim was settled at the High Court without any admission of liability.[15][16]
In a Carling Cup tie while at Millwall, he grabbed the throat of Liverpool striker Milan Baros.[17]
Also in 2004, Iwan Roberts admitted he deliberately stamped on Muscat in a match against Norwich City in revenge for his attempt to injure Craig Bellamy in 1999. Roberts was subsequently fined and suspended by the FA for his comments.[18][19]
In December 2005, he was the first A-League player to appear before a FFA disciplinary hearing and was subsequently suspended for two matches for "violent conduct".[20] At an A-league game in October 2006 Muscat clashed with then Adelaide United coach John Kosmina,
knocking Kosmina from his chair while retrieving the ball. Kosmina
responded by grabbing Muscat by the throat, an action for which Kosmina
was suspended for four matches.[21][22]
In November 2008 Muscat was handed a 4 match suspension for stomping on the testicles of Daniel Mullen after the referee missed in the incident, he was then later sent off in the same match of elbowing the same player in the forehead while challenging for an aerial ball. In 2009 Muscat was suspended for 2 matches for punching Jason Culina behind play during a corner.[15][16] On October 11, 2010, Aston villa winger Ashley Young
revealed he was threatened by Muscat during his first professional
match as an 18 year old. Young told the media "I remember my first game
for Watford. When I came on, Kevin Muscat's first words to me were 'don't go past me or I will break your legs'.