The trouble occurred when the Frenchman was drinking outside a London pub with a mystery brunette on Wednesday.
Cantona appeared deep in conversation with his companion as they drank beer in the sunshine.
But seconds after being spotted by a paparazzo, Cantona lashed out. Police were called to The Queens pub in Primrose Hill after the photographer was punched in the face.
The 47-year-old, a married father of two, was arrested and bundled into a police car. He was taken to a North London police station and held for more than six hours before accepting a caution.
Witnesses said his companion went inside the pub and waited before leaving through another door.
The Metropolitan Police have issued a statement saying: 'Police were called to Regents Park Road, NW1, at 12.55pm on Wednesday 12th March, following reports of an assault.
'Officers from Camden Borough attended and a man in his mid-40s was arrested on suspicion of common assault. He was taken into custody and subsequently cautioned for common assault. The victim, a man, did not require medical assistance at the scene.'
Photographer Amari-Jade Robinson was driving past the scene near Regent's Park and initially thought the uniformed policeman was a fan.
He said: 'I thought he might be a fan and wanted to just speak to him.
'My window was wound down and I said out loud "I think that's Eric Cantona" and he looked round to me when I said it so I knew it was him.
'I was stopped in traffic for around three minutes and at first I didn't think he was getting in trouble, but then he seemed to be a bit frustrated.
'He attempted to walk away and looked a bit frustrated but the officer went in front of him. He was side stepping to block him.
'He seemed a bit frustrated at first, moving his arms, but then he seemed to calm down and talk to the officer - it looked like he was trying to explain something.'
Cantona had a troubled history even before his arrival in English football. In 1987, he was fined for punching his Auxerre team-mate, goalkeeper Bruno Martini.
Then, while on loan at Montpellier, he was banned from the club's ground for 10 days for throwing his boots in the face of teammate Jean-Claude Lemoult following a bust-up.
He was also suspended by Marseille for angrily kicking a ball into the crowd and throwing his shirt at the referee after being substituted during a friendly against Torpedo Moscow in 1989.
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