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Alcaraz grapples with Kevin Doyle. Nick Potts/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Hock and Roll

Sports stars who’ve gone spitting mad

Wigan captain Antolin Alcaraz is in hot water for lobbing some phlegm in the direction of Wolves’ Richard Stearman, but he’s not the only player to spend time on the naughty step.

TEMPERS ARE RUNNING high; a dour, physical game has pushed you to the limit; your team’s losing; and– boom– just when you can’t take any more, there’s Richard Stearman, getting all up in your business.

Time to clear the throat, roll the tongue and take some evasive action. I mean, who wouldn’t?

Well, most people. Most people, that is, except the best golfer of all-time, the second best footballer of his generation and Romania’s top tennis star. You’re in good company, Antonio Alcaraz.

Tiger Woods

Not content with the damage already done to his once-pristine reputation, Tiger Woods hit the headlines again during this year’s Dubai Desert Classic.

Frustrated by his form on the greens, the former world number one dispatched a glob of phlegm while lining up a putt on the twelfth hole of the final round. The powers that be were not impressed.

YouTube credit: thebear187

Frank Rijkaard

Germany and Holland aren’t the best of friends even at the most cordial of times, but Dutch midfielder Frank Rijkaard took the animosity to a whole new level during the second-round World Cup tie at Italia 1990.

During the course of a series of clashes with Germany’s Rudi Voller, Rijkaard spat in the striker’s hair. Then, as the two trudged off the pitch following another altercation, he repeated the trick.

Most worryingly of all, Voller’s barnet was so voluminous that we’re not even sure he fully realised what had happened.

YouTube credit: Remy 0709

Victor Hansecu

The Romanian tennis star, ranked 38th in the world, was at the centre of an unsavoury incident at last year’s Wimbledon.

During his third-round match against Daniel Brands, Hansecu responded to a heckler in the crowd by lobbing a loogie in his or her direction.

The Romanian forfeited the game in anger shortly afterwards, though he still couldn’t manage to avoid a £10000 fine.

YouTube credit: Donkey1122334455

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugeuse star Cristiano Ronaldo did not respond well to his country’s World Cup defeat last summer.

As a diligent camera man positioned himself to get some footage of the star leaving the pitch, C-Ron appeared to spit in his general direction.

The camera doesn’t lie, Cristiano. The camera doesn’t lie.

YouTube credit: Bock8888

Le’Ron McClain

Baltimore Ravens full-back Le’Ron McClain landed himself in hot water in November when he apparently spat at the Miami Dolphins Channing Crowder.

It’s slightly hard to see any saliva flying in this poor quality video, but judging by Crowder’s livid reaction, I don’t think McClain was getting up close and personal to enquire about the linebacker’s wellbeing.

– Additional reporting by Conor Nagle