Cantona proud of beach soccer achievements

Former Manchester United hero Eric Cantona was at his philosophical best at the Soccerex football trade show in Dubai as he pontificated about the qualities of beach soccer.

The Frenchman’s most remembered quote came in response to the 120-hour community sentence and nine-month ban for his infamous kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace fan in the crowd at Selhurst Park.

On that occasion his only comment on the matter was: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.”

Cantona retired from football in 1997 but is currently involved in five-a-side beach soccer as player-coach of France.

However, he has lost none of his ability to produce a headline-grabbing soundbite. Having won the beach soccer world championship in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, Cantona was asked how the two versions of the sport compared.

“Emotionally for me winning at beach soccer was just the same as winning for Manchester United,” he said.