Vinnie Jones Shook Hands With Teammate After Fight to Decide Hardest Footballer
Vinnie Jones was involved in a fight with a fellow Welsh international in London back in 2000 to settle which player was the 'hardest'.
Jones is widely regarded as one of the toughest footballers to play in England, with his hardman reputation stemming from his role in the Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Welsh international used his on-field reputation to successfully reinvent himself in Hollywood after his football career, playing tough-guy/villain roles to this day.
Jones broke into the industry for his role in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, but he was back in the headlines for footballing reasons two years later.
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Speaking on the Undr The Cosh podcast, Terry Gibson, who was Jones' teammate at Wimbledon, brought up a brutal scrap between Jones and John Hartson.
Hartson was also known for his tough guy persona, with podcast host Chris Brown admitting: "That's a fight I'd like to watch. Hartson and Vinnie Jones."
On the podcast, Gibson recounted the incident saying: "Vinnie Jones and John Hartson, best of mates, had a proper fight to see who was the hardest.
"They ended up challenging each other to see who was the hardest and having a scrap in the street."
When quizzed on whether this stemmed from a serious disagreement, Gibson amusingly revealed the duo had no bad blood, and simply wanted to put themselves to the test.
"No, just to see who was the hardest," he continued.
As the police were called the duo were reportedly left bloodied and with torn shirts, but turned down the offer of first aid and shook hands after the scuffle.
A source at the time said: "It was an argument over who was the hardest of the two. They decided to sort it out by having a fight. They went outside and tore into each other. That's when police were called."
No police action was taken, with a spokesperson realising the following statement: "They apparently know one another and left the scene having resolved the situation. Neither wished to make an allegation.
"They had minor cuts and bruises but declined medical aid. No other members of the public were involved and no further police action will be taken."
Topics: Vinnie Jones, Football, Wimbledon
Tom Jenkins