Maradona and the Knockout Karate Kick

 

On 24 September 1983, Barcelona hosted Bilbao at Camp Nou and comprehensively beat their close rivals. With the home side three goals to the good midway through the second half, Andoni Goikoetxea lost his temper. This after Maradona, who had already provided two assists, picked up the ball in Bilbao’s final third. With a swerve and a dip of the shoulder, he looked to initiate yet another attack. The Bilbao defender launched himself into a vicious tackle from behind. Crunching into Maradona’s leg he left the Argentine screaming in agony, his ankle badly broken. It was a moment Maradona would never forget. He would exact revenge at a later date in a mass brawl. It was the moment of Maradona and the knockout karate kick.

Maradona and the Knockout Karate Kick

It is no exaggeration to say that this tackle could have ended things for Maradona. The man who would go on to win the World Cup and become one of the world’s greatest footballers was now faced with a long spell on the sidelines. It would take months of rehabilitation before he would be able to play again. It appeared that Goikoetxea who became known as “the Butcher of Bilbao” had claimed his biggest scalp.

Barcelona manager Cesar Menotti was enraged by the incident, stating afterwards that Goiko should be banned for life. The “tackle” all but ended Barcelona’s title hopes and it was Goikoetxea and Bilbao who pipped them to the title.

Barcelona Fight Back

The following season the roles were reversed. Barca pipping Bilbao to the title with Goikoetxea’s team coming in third place in the league. Maradona made it back in time for the second league match against Bilbao. Scoring two goals in a 2-1 win at San Mames. Next up he took part in the 1984 Copa del Rey final, in which Barca and Bilbao would face each other. The tie was a fraught and feverish event. 

The game itself showed all the qualities that made Bilbao a top side. Going into an early lead they defended stoutly and resolutely to keep Maradona and Barca at bay. Barcelona couldn’t break them down and the result stayed the same till the final whistle.

What followed will go down as one of the darkest days in Spanish football.

A Knee To The Head

Having received a nasty gash on his leg after a robust tackle from Goikoetxea as well as deafening taunts from the crowd, Maradona showed that he too had a violent side. Never more evident than when Miguel Sola attempted to goad him at the end of the match. Initiating what is possibly still the most extreme fight in a major domestic tournament, Maradona kneed Sola in the head. Knocking him out cold he then proceeded to launch himself with a flurry of kicks into a group of Bilbao players.

In the whirlwind of kung-fu moves and punches which followed Goikoetxea managed one last swipe at Maradona. Connecting with a flying kick of his own as his nemesis found himself at the centre of the brawl. 

The Butcher and His Boots

The game would be Maradona’s last for Barcelona. He wouldn’t stick around for Barcelona’s title win the following season. With the bust-up against Bilbao the main factor he subsequently moved to Napoli.

As for Goikoetxea he left Bilbao in 1987 and spent three years at Atletico Madrid before retiring. For his part he had already apologised profusely, claiming he had never intended to injure Maradona.

This might have been believable, was ‘The Butcher’ not reported to have kept the boots he wore that day preserved at home in a glass display case.