A pre-season friendly between Altrincham FC and Wythenshawe Town was abandoned last night after an apparent "Cantona-style" kung fu kick sparked a mass confrontation between players.
The game at Ericstan Park was called off shortly before half-time after the incident, with the Robins later confirming the referee abandoned the match over concerns for the "safety and welfare" of both teams.
An eyewitness told Altrincham Today that tensions had been building throughout the first half following a series of robust challenges on what was described as a hard, dry playing surface.
The flashpoint came moments before the interval after Altrincham had the ball in the net.
One supporter said an unidentified Wythenshawe Town player - wearing the number six shirt - then appeared to launch a head-height kick at an Altrincham player, thought to be defender Charlie Olson, describing it as "like watching Eric Cantona in 1995", referencing the former Manchester United player's infamous kung fu kick at Crystal Palace in 1995.
"Suddenly the Wythenshawe Town player ran and did a head-height kung fu kick on one of our players," the supporter said.
"I've not seen anything like that at a football match since Cantona in 1995. It was like watching an old Bruce Lee movie."
The alleged kick triggered a confrontation involving players from both sides before the referee led the teams from the pitch.
The match never resumed.
Altrincham supporter George Simper posted on X: "Abandoned after a big scrap. Ref lost control before a ball was even kicked. Managers bickering from the off. A pitch unfit for purpose. Embarrassing."
Photographs taken after the incident appear to show the player involved being confronted on the pitch by a woman believed by spectators to be a family member, with eyewitnesses suggesting she may have been his mother. Altrincham Today has been unable to independently verify her identity.
Another Altrincham supporter, posting as @catchyoulater72 on X, wrote: "One of your [Wythenshawe's] players took a flying kick at one of our players' heads and then his mum ran on to tell him off."
Altrincham later issued a statement saying: "Tonight's pre-season friendly against Wythenshawe Town was abandoned shortly before half-time following an on-field incident.
"The decision to abandon the match was made out of concern for the safety and welfare of both sets of players after the situation escalated.
"The match officials will submit their reports to the relevant authorities, and it would be inappropriate for the club to comment further until that process has been completed.
"We thank our supporters for their understanding."
Exactly horrible what they did got them videos not much on them really pic.twitter.com/wYabPw0pXJ
— Elliott (@Elliottowen55) July 14, 2026
Earlier, Northern Premier League side Wythenshawe Town posted on social media: "Match abandoned at half time. Don't listen to rumours online, we come back out on the pitch with the ref and the other team didn't so take that how you want it."
The post was later deleted.
The referee's report will now be submitted to the relevant football authorities, who will determine whether any disciplinary action is required.
Altrincham FC's board is also expected to meet today to discuss the incident and its aftermath.
We've contacted Wythenshawe Town FC for a comment.
