Brian Clough has always been a rather controversial manager, adding to this reputation in 1989. Clough was manager of the Nottingham Forest team winning 5-2 against QPR, when fans ran into the pitch celebrating. However, Clough was not a fund of the fans reaction and punched two in the face. The two fans were so devoted to Forest and Brian Clough that they both apologised for their behaviour on national television.

In 2005, Newcastle United was behind 3-0 against Aston Villa, however, the worst part of that match was the fight between the team mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer. The bust-up occurred in the 81st minute when the two players squared up after a heated exchange. Lee Bowyer appeared to throw the first punch while Kieron Dyer only defended himself not punching back. However, both players received a red card and apologised to the club and the fans after match, promising it would never happen again.

This week's football list features the five hardest tackling players in the Premier League. Better keep your legs to your self!

1.    Joey Barton 

      Queens Park Rangers

The QPR-captain is a player you do not want to mess with. The English midfielder shows no anger when he cut opponent into two pieces with his hard tackles. Barton had his first red card, during his time in Manchester City, when he got into an argument with the referee during the half time break. The next red card he got in City, when he two-foot tackled Bolton player Diagne-Faye, and showed how hard his playing style is. The hard hitting midfielder is also known not to be afraid of picking up a fight on the pitch, as seen with both Diaby and Gervinho, both from Arsenal.  However, it is not only on the pitch, Barton is controversial. In 2005, he attacked an  15 year old Everton fan,  the year after he assaulted his team mate in Manchester City, Ousmane Dabo and was arrested by the police. There are numbers of incidents with Barton’s involvement, and he has even driven down an 35-year old pedestrian, while driven drunk in 2005. This is Premier League’s bad boy #1.

2.    Nigel De Jong 

      Manchester City

The Dutch midfielder with the flattering nickname as, ‘The Terrier’. De Jong is known for his hard style play and has a couple of fractured legs on his conscience. In an international friendly in 2010 between Holland and USA, De Jong fractured, American international, Stuart Holden’s leg. As a result, Holden was to be sidelined for six weeks. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, ‘The Terrier’, kicked Spanish International Xavi in the chest and was lucky not to be sent off. Later, in 2010 the Dutch tackled Newcastle’s Hatem Ben Arfa and fractured his left tibia and fibula. De Jongs playing style has even thrown him of the Dutch national team, however he is now back. The most incredible about De Jong is that he has never received a red card during his time in Manchester City.

3.    Mario Balotelli

      Manchester City

The Italian Striker is one more known for his number of red cards than his goals. The young Manchester City player has a hard style of playing and often makes some rash tackles causing considerable pain for his opponents. Most memorable is the stamp on Tottenham Hotspur’s Scott Parker after just minutes on the pitch. However, it is not only on the pitch Barlotelli has problems controlling himself. He has crashed his car twice and thrown darts at  a youth team player.

4.    Nemanja Vidic  

      Manchester United 

The captain of Manchester United is also known as the ‘Serbian Terminator’. His aggressive no-nonsense play style is praised by fans and feared by opponents. Balotelli, Micah Richards and Fernando Torres have felt the anger of the Serb and will properly think again before challenging the defender. Unlike Joey Barton and Barlotelli, Vidic is a player who keeps focus on the pitch, but he occasionally loses his temper. Watch your legs!

5.    Ryan Shawcross