He was known for his infamous hairdryer treatments, sending tremors through even the biggest Manchester United names. But it appears one man was immune from a Sir Alex Ferguson blasting - even when he kung-fu kicked a fan. This Sunday it will be 20 years since Eric Cantona stunned the world when he vaulted an advertisement hoarding and landed his studs in the chest of a Crystal Palace supporter who had been hurling vile abuse in his direction. Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona kicked out at a Crystal Palace fan on January 25, 1995 . Cantona launched himself into the Selhurst Park crowd after Palace fan Matthew Simmons hurled abuse . Cantona reacted angrily to abuse from a Palace fan after he was sent off during the match at Selhurst Park . Marseille . Division 1: 1998-89, 1990-91 . Montpellier . Coupe de France: 1989-90 . Leeds United . Football League First Division: 1991-92 . Community Shield: 1992 . Manchester United . Premier League: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97 . FA Cup: 1993-94, 1995-96 . Community Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996 . The Frenchman had been sent off for a foul on Richard Shaw and reacted to taunts on his way back to the tunnel. But he was spared from one of his manager's high-velocity rollockings - according to then team-mate Gary Pallister. 'We all wondered how the manager would deal with Eric after that,' the former United defender told the Manchester Evening News. 'He had never had the hairdryer. Virtually everyone else had, but not Eric. We wondered if finally this was it. We expected Fergie to go berserk. 'But he didn't. Hardly anything was said immediately after in the dressing room. We couldn't believe it.' Pallister also revealed that the Frenchman, who joined United from bitter rivals Leeds, was often a target of abuse from opposition fans. Cantona was among the few players who avoided Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer, according to Gary Pallister . The Frenchman was banned from football for eight months and ordered to do 120 hours of community service . 'Eric was no angel,' he said. 'We all knew that. He had a short fuse and everybody has a breaking point. That night and moment was Eric's. 'But it wasn't just the tackles and shirt pulling he had to deal with that night that pushed him over the edge. It was the culmination of a lot of abuse Eric had to put up with at every ground he went to. 'You wouldn't believe the kind of vile verbal abuse that was directed at him when we arrived at opposition grounds and got off the bus. 'Even when we went to the horse races, Eric couldn't escape it. I remember at one race meeting he was being spat on from a balcony in the enclosure above where we were standing. 'It was no wonder he cracked. For a guy with a short fuse I actually think he showed a lot of restraint up to that point.' Cantona spent five years at Manchester United before retiring in 1997 at the age of 30 . Pallister, pictured with Cantona after winning the 1994 FA Cup, was not surprised by his team-mate's response .
Eric Cantona kicked a Crystal Palace fan who abused him .
This Sunday will be 20 years since the Selhurst Park incident .
Former Man United forward was banned from football for eight months .
Hardly anything was said in the dressing room, reveals Gary Pallister .
He was known for his infamous hairdryer treatments, sending tremors through even the biggest Manchester United names. But it appears one man was immune from a Sir Alex Ferguson blasting - even when he kung-fu kicked a fan. This Sunday it will be 20 years since Eric Cantona stunned the world when he vaulted an advertisement hoarding and landed his studs in the chest of a Crystal Palace supporter who had been hurling vile abuse in his direction. Former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona kicked out at a Crystal Palace fan on January 25, 1995 . Cantona launched himself into the Selhurst Park crowd after Palace fan Matthew Simmons hurled abuse . Cantona reacted angrily to abuse from a Palace fan after he was sent off during the match at Selhurst Park . Marseille . Division 1: 1998-89, 1990-91 . Montpellier . Coupe de France: 1989-90 . Leeds United . Football League First Division: 1991-92 . Community Shield: 1992 . Manchester United . Premier League: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97 . FA Cup: 1993-94, 1995-96 . Community Shield: 1993, 1994, 1996 . The Frenchman had been sent off for a foul on Richard Shaw and reacted to taunts on his way back to the tunnel. But he was spared from one of his manager's high-velocity rollockings - according to then team-mate Gary Pallister. 'We all wondered how the manager would deal with Eric after that,' the former United defender told the Manchester Evening News. 'He had never had the hairdryer. Virtually everyone else had, but not Eric. We wondered if finally this was it. We expected Fergie to go berserk. 'But he didn't. Hardly anything was said immediately after in the dressing room. We couldn't believe it.' Pallister also revealed that the Frenchman, who joined United from bitter rivals Leeds, was often a target of abuse from opposition fans. Cantona was among the few players who avoided Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer, according to Gary Pallister . The Frenchman was banned from football for eight months and ordered to do 120 hours of community service . 'Eric was no angel,' he said. 'We all knew that. He had a short fuse and everybody has a breaking point. That night and moment was Eric's. 'But it wasn't just the tackles and shirt pulling he had to deal with that night that pushed him over the edge. It was the culmination of a lot of abuse Eric had to put up with at every ground he went to. 'You wouldn't believe the kind of vile verbal abuse that was directed at him when we arrived at opposition grounds and got off the bus. 'Even when we went to the horse races, Eric couldn't escape it. I remember at one race meeting he was being spat on from a balcony in the enclosure above where we were standing. 'It was no wonder he cracked. For a guy with a short fuse I actually think he showed a lot of restraint up to that point.' Cantona spent five years at Manchester United before retiring in 1997 at the age of 30 . Pallister, pictured with Cantona after winning the 1994 FA Cup, was not surprised by his team-mate's response .
This Sunday it will be 20 years since Eric Manchester United striker Eric Cantona kicked out at a Crystal Palace fan on January 25, 1995 . Cantona launched himself into the Selhurst Park Hardly anything was said immediately after in the dressing room. We couldn't believe it.' Pallister . The Frenchman was banned from football for