It's not often an England U21 clash is at the top of the headlines, but that is exactly what happened when Ravel Morrison and Wilfried Zaha had a physical exchange on the pitch
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Wilfried Zaha and Ravel Morrison scuffling with each other on the pitch while Nathan Redmond breaks them up during the England U21s 5-0 victory over Lithuania in 2013
Wilfried Zaha and Ravel Morrison clashed while on England youth duty
(Image: @TheFA)
Ravel Morrison has claimed Wilfried Zaha didn't return to the changing room after the ex-England U21 duo's infamous clash on the pitch. In March 2013, the Young Lions cruised to a 5-0 home victory over Lithuania in what was a routine and otherwise uneventful win.
That was until Morrison and Zaha were suddenly at each other's throats on the pitch, in front of television cameras and stunned spectators. During a brief break in play, Zaha could be seen exchanging words with Morrison as both sets of players looked to get back in position.
After taking exception to something Zaha said, Morrison turned around and pushed his former Manchester United youth team-mate, prompting the ex-Crystal Palace forward to furiously shove him back. Former Southampton winger Nathan Redmond intervened, ensuring the scuffle did not turn into a full-blown fight.
In 2021, Zaha, who now represents the Ivory Coast and plays club football for Charlotte in the MLS, claimed he was angry with what he perceived to be selfish play from his team-mate. Morrison, 32, who now plays for Precision FC in Dubai, hit out at Zaha, claiming their physical exchange has been blown out of proportion by the media and his ex-team-mate.
When asked if it was heated in the changing room, Morrison told Undr The Cosh podcast: "No. He didn’t come into the changing room after that, but there was no back and forth or anything after that. There was nothing. The conversation was done.
"It happened on the pitch and it stayed on the pitch. There was nothing in the changing room, there was no awkwardness or anything. You can ask all the U21s that was there. There was nothing in the changing room after. I’ve never understood it really.”
In 2021, Zaha, providing his side of what happened, told the On the Judy podcast: "He (Morrison) was just getting me mad. He was moving like he was Ronaldinho and the rest of us were just no one.
Wilfried Zaha and Ravel Morrison scuffling with each other on the pitch while Nathan Redmond breaks them up during the England U21s 5-0 victory over Lithuania in 2013
Morrison insists their scuffle was blown out of proportion
"He was getting the ball and he was just doing tricks and the only time he passes it is if he really needs to. We're just stood there with our hands on our hips while he's going past six Lithuanian players. And it's just like, 'What are you doing?’
"It was that easy - the team that we had, we had such good players and we can all do that, we can all hog the ball and go past all of them but we're not doing it. We're trying to be professional, play properly, but he was just on his own thing.
"I just had enough. I was like, 'What are you doing?' And out of the blue he just pushed me. I'm like, 'Are you dumb?’ So I pushed him back and it was just nonsense on the pitch. Then when you go inside, the man is silent."
Ravel Morrison has words with Wilfried Zaha of England U21
In 2021, Morrison challenged Zaha to discuss what happened during that game on a podcast
Morrison responded to Zaha's comments in 2021 by asking him to discuss their exchange on a podcast. Addressing what Zaha said four years ago, Morrison added: "I think that thing (the scuffle) was blown out of proportion.
"I think even from his side, he’s come out and done something after it again. It was never that deep. Me and Saido Berahino, we were both on two goals. Obviously, you shouldn’t really do it, but the game had like 15 minutes left.
"We were talking and saying, 'Who can get the hat-trick?’ We were both trying to get a hat-trick, so I think I hit one outside the area and, from there, it just tipped him over the water. Even in that game, there was no, 'Oh, pass me the ball.’ It was like that one split-second in the game.”
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