FORMER Premier League striker Ivano Bonetti suffered a fractured cheekbone when his manager launched a plate of CHICKEN WINGS at him.
The ex-Juventus, Crystal Palace and Dundee midfielder, now 58, spent one season of his journeyman career with Grimsby Town.
During that 1995-96 campaign, the Mariners reached the FA Cup fourth round where they took on Premier League outfit West Ham.
After a 0-0 draw at Upton Park, Grimsby hosted the Hammers at Blundell Park – and secured a shock 3-0 win over Harry Redknapp’s side.
But arguably the biggest drama took place off the field… before a ball was even kicked.
That is because of a dramatic bust-up between manager Brian Laws and his Italian star Bonetti ahead of the famous replay.
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The Grimsby gaffer was furious with his side’s performance in the 3-2 defeat at Luton four days before the West Ham game, just weeks after thumping the Hatters 7-1.
And he was particularly unhappy at Bonetti’s efforts.
So much so that he picked up the plate of chicken wings that was sat in the dressing room and proceeded to throw it at the Serie A title winner.
The crockery crashed straight into the face of the midfielder and broke the bone just below his right eye in a shocking twist.
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The damage was clear to see as Laws and Bonetti faced the press to make amends, with the latter’s face clearly showing the effects.
Somehow, they put the incident behind them to come back a few days later and beat West Ham – although Bonetti would ultimately quit the club for Tranmere on a free.
They then earned a replay in the fifth round following a 0-0 draw with Chelsea but lost the replay at Stamford Bridge 4-1.
However, the incident did scupper a dream weekend away Bonetti had planned for team-mates John McDermott, Paul Groves and Craig Shakespeare.
McDermott said: “We were going to Italy with him (Bonetti). I had my suitcase in the changing room, I’d never been to Italy in my life.
“He was taking us to the Milan derby, we were going to this nightclub, all paid for, in a limo, and he had Pagliuca, the goalkeeper, and Vialli, they were meeting us out.
“The game comes on, and he comes in, kicks off with the old chicken drumstick. He gets laid out, and I don’t believe it.
“I was picking him up and saying, ‘Come on Ivano mate, it’s only a scratch!’
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“He was laid out, gone, his face was caved in, but I’m thinking about this trip.
“We ended up going to the Pier! I couldn’t even get in, I had to pay to get in there!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
