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Hartson meets Berko 17 years after that kick

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Nobody who was around at the time will ever forget it …the day they learned Johnny Hartson had kicked Etal Berkovic in the head on the Irons training ground.

John Hartson hugs Eyal Berkovic in Israel - 17 years after kicking him in the head

Now, 17 years on  the pair have met up again with Hartson tweeting:  “Just caught up with this little playmaker. Nice lunch in Haifa! Mr Berkovic.”

Whena  video of a training ground incident emerged showing Hartson kicking Berkovic in the head back in ’98, even the hardiest Hammer was shocked.

So it’s good to know the pair have made it up even though the look on Berko’s face may seem to tell a different story!

Speaking about the incident last year, Hartson told the BBC: “Even today it is the biggest regret of my career. I was 20 years of age. I was very boisterous, probably a little bit angry. I’d left Arsenal in 1997 and they went on to win the double in 1998.

“Eyal Berkovic was a good lad and to this day I don’t know why I reacted the way I did. It was nothing personal against Eyal. It could have been anyone of the players on the training ground that day.”

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

0 comments

  • TysonM says:

    I love you journalists,ex journalists Hugh.You couldnt just say they met up & had lunch & remind us all of what happened but you have to add in the story that the look on berkovics face suggests he may not have forgiven,lol.I guess it just keeps the story running now with that seed of doubt planted 😀

  • The Ludo says:

    Don’t think the years have treated Mr Berkovic kindly – timber!!!!!!!!!!!

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