Sports
Unseen footage of Roy Keane altercation with Arsenal fan after alleged headbutt emerges
Previously unseen footage of the alleged headbutt incident involving Roy Keane has emerged with a man accused of assaulting the former Manchester United captain.
On Wednesday, ex-United skipper Keane appeared in court to give evidence over an incident where he was allegedly headbutted by an Arsenal supporter during a Premier League match in September.
The event is said to have happened on September 3 when Keane was covering Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Manchester United as part of Sky Sports’ punditry team at the Emirates.
Arsenal fan Scott Law was arrested following the incident and later charged with assaulting Keane.
The 43-year-old of Waltham Abbey, Essex, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault.
Law was seated near to Sky Sports studio and made an ‘obscene gesture’ towards Keane and colleague Micah Richards, Highbury Corner magistrates’ court was told.
The alleged incident happened after Keane celebrated what he thought was a United winner from Alejandro Garnacho, which was disallowed for offside – with Arsenal going on to win the match with two late goals.
CCTV footage of the altercation has been released and shows Keane engaging in a scuffle with Law.
Micah Richards can be seen attempting to diffuse the situation and restraining Law, who then fled the scene before being arrested the following day, the court was told.
Keane, who missed the last two goals because of the fracas, claims he was on the receiving end of a “forceful headbutt” which took him by surprise.
He told the court: “There was lots of noise and shouting, as you would expect at a football match.
“I was just walking and, before I knew it, I was hit. I felt the contact and fell back through some doors.
“I was absolutely not expecting it. The only way I can describe it is that I was in shock. I didn’t expect it to happen, not when I was in my workplace.”
Image: Getty
He claimed he suffered bruising on his arms and chest as a result of the altercation.
Meanwhile, Law’s defence said Keane was “the only person to have delivered any unlawful violence” and questioned him on high-profile incidents during his career.
The trial continues and Richards is expected to enter the witness box before it concludes.
Featured Image Credit: The Mirror
Topics: Roy Keane, Manchester United