5 footballers who are always likely to inflict injury on their opponents

Almost everything has an ugly side and, sadly, the beautiful game is not exempt. Football has produced some shocking brawls over the years, both on and off the pitch, but that has always been overshadowed by the positive aspects.Hooliganism amongst fans has always been part of the game, however, some players have no problem getting their hands (and/or heads) dirty and it seems like no one is safe when they are around. They never hesitate to lash out in anger or leave one on an opposing player, most times showing a complete lack of consideration for the beauty of the sport.Injuries are obviously unavoidable, but those players make them so much easier to come by. Here is a list of footballers who are always likely to inflict injury on their opponents.

#5 Pepe

Pepe was sent off and banned at the 2014 World Cup for headbutting Thomas Muller

You surely wouldn’t want to pick a fight with the Real Madrid and Portugal defender. There is no subtlety to his game and he never backs down from a challenge.

Pepe, known as a no-nonsense defender, is as tough as nails. Combine that with the occasional tendency for maniacal conduct and you have one of the most dangerous men in football. He once went unpunished for stepping on Lionel Messi’s hand during a match against Barcelona, but could not avoid punishment for his lashing out at Getafe player Javi Casquero back in 2009.

He would angrily kick the midfielder twice after he went down in the box, then pull on his hair and put his knee into his back while squeezing his arm and pretending to have a conversation. He then tried to step on Casquero’s arm with one foot while using the other foot to stamp on his leg while moving backwards.

Pepe was banned for kicking Getafe’s Javier Casquero

Pepe would still punch two other Getafe players who tried to defend their teammate, before attempting yet another stamp on the still-grounded player. Surprisingly, Pepe was only banned for four matches after his demonic display, but this one incident certainly leaves him one of the most violent players in today’s game.

#4 Joey Barton

Joey Barton welcomes Gervinho to the Premier League

The English midfielder is football’s biggest bad boy at the moment and can’t seem to stay out of trouble. He recently paid a five-figure sum to Blackpool’s owners as a result of a defamation claim.

Barton, described as the dirtiest player in the Premier League at one point, has been charged by the FA for violent conduct on three occasions and has also been convicted twice on charges of violence, serving a 77-day sentence in prison in 2008 for assaulting a teammate during training.

The current Burnley man is as short-fused as it gets, getting involved in several violent incidents on the pitch. His most memorable moment came against Manchester City whilst playing for QPR.

Joey Barton kicks an unsuspecting Sergio Aguero to the ground

After receiving a red card for appearing to strike Carlos Tevez, Barton would kick Sergio Aguero from behind and then headbutt Vincent Kompany before being hauled off the pitch. He was fined £75,000 and given a 12-match ban by the FA.

#3 Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez was banned for 10 matches after he bit Branislav Ivanovic

Luis Suarez has been on his best behaviour since joining Spanish giants Barcelona after a successful spell at Liverpool. The controversial striker has teamed up with Lionel Messi and Neymar to form the best three-pronged attack Barcelona has ever seen, which probably means that he is too busy being happy to take a chunk out of anyone.

The Uruguayan striker helped Barcelona to the treble last season but not before serving out a four-month ban from all football-related activities. The suspension was the consequence of being found guilty of biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Luis Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini when Uruguay played Italy in the 2014 World Cup

This wasn’t his first canine offense, though. The forward was suspended for seven games whilst at Ajax for biting into the shoulder of PSV’s Otman Bakkal. He would take his bad habit to the Premier League, earning himself another 10-match ban for sinking his teeth into the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

Suarez has calmed down since, but you do feel that he is just one bad game away from biting someone else.

#2 Marouane Fellaini

Marouane Fellaini seriously injured Paul McShane by first stamping his thigh and then putting his knee to his head

The big Belgian, currently plying his trade at Manchester United, loves throwing his weight around. While it would be just a tad bit unfair to label Fellaini a violent player, he has had his moments.

Fellaini missed the first three matches of this campaign due to getting sent off during the last match of last season against Hull City. He received a red card after being on the pitch only 15 minutes for a vicious stamp on the thigh of defender Paul McShane which left the player bleeding. He would then put a knee into McShane’s head as a follow through.

The midfielder also served out a three-match ban back in 2012 for a headbutt on Ryan Shawcross whilst he was still at Everton. While his card tally has been surprisingly low, the former Toffees man has averaged 2.2 fouls a game since joining United.

Fellaini received a 3-match ban for headbutting Ryan Shawcross when he was at Everton

Fellaini has no qualms when it comes to handing out a few bruises during a game. He is definitely likely to inflict injury every time he takes the field.

#1 Diego Costa

Diego Costa got into an altercation with Laurent Koscielny when Chelsea played Arsenal

The Chelsea striker is no stranger to controversy and is quickly becoming the Premier League’s most unfavourable character. Now in his second season in England, Costa has already been charged for violent conduct twice by the FA.

The fiery forward just loves a scuffle and tries everything he can to wind up opposing players. He has never actually gotten anyone injured, but that is probably because he isn’t a defender. You do get the feeling that if he was paid to make tackles instead of scoring goals, Costa would have already broken a few limbs.

10 yellow cards in one season is rather high for a forward, but that didn’t stop Costa from reaching the tally. He is already on five yellows this season and looks set to pass beat his own numbers.

Diego Costa deliberately stamped Emre Can’s leg and ended up serving a three-match ban

The Spain international is a very talented player, however, his insatiable appetite for brawling is getting in the way of his football. He has already served a three-match ban this term for putting his hands into the face of Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny. He had served a similar ban last season for an alleged stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can.

Costa’s attitude is probably responsible in part for making him the star that he is, but his outbursts really aren’t necessary sometimes. Although he has got it back in equal measures at times.