A debate centred on whether or not Manchester City should look to fine Sergio Aguero for travelling to Amsterdam - where he sustained an injury due to a collision involving a taxi he was in - has informed us of a training-ground scrap involving Robbie Keane that we had previously never heard any details about.
Martin Jol was the guest on BBC Radio 5 Live's Friday Football Social with Jermaine Jenas and Darren Fletcher, and when the former Spurs boss was asked about his experiences with issuing a fine to a player and docking them of their wages, he instantly recalled an incident involving Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer. Back in 2005, the only information available was that neither player was punished for the incident, but now we know a little bit more.
After outlining that on the first day of training every year he would inform his players that if they got into a fight, he himself would grab them and fight them, Jol revealed that he went three years without tempers boiling over before Keane and Davids decided to throw punches.
I think you have to accept that things can happen, even fighting in training. I always said at the start of the season; If you start a fight, I will grab you.
And I was 45, I was quite firm, quite strong, they believed me, you know?
But, they still had a fight. After three years [without an incident], Edgar Davids was fighting with Robbie Keane. That was a big problem, you know? And Robbie Keane had was boxing, he was working out as a boxer so he was quite good, but we had a big problem and he went home.
The next day we had to play Blackburn Rovers I think, so I had to solve that problem. I knew that if I was to fine Edgar Davids for example, or Robbie Keane.... Davids would say to me '30 grand? I go to the city centre and I spend 30 grand', so for him it was nothing.
But I said; 'Come here, how can you punch Robbie?' but he never punched Robbie, Robbie gave him two blows on the chin. So he said 'Did I punch him boss!?' and I said 'Yeah, of course', so he came back with his car, and they made up.
They were friends again, played the next day, and we beat Blackburn Rovers, so you have to react to the situation.
G'wan the Robbie, hit and don't get hit.
Of course, we know he's not the type to react like that unless it's warranted, and judging by Jol's reaction of 'how could you punch Robbie?' we'll just assume the Dutchman was in the wrong here, but Keano can handle himself. No doubt about that.
You can check out Martin Jol's appearance on Friday Football Social in full below:
