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Roy Keane "Should Not Be Involved In Football" For Sickening Alf-Inge Haaland Tackle

Roy Keane "Should Not Be Involved In Football" For Sickening Alf-Inge Haaland Tackle

Keane was sent off for a horror tackle on Haaland during a Manchester derby in 2001.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Roy Keane has been told it is 'dreadful' he is still accepted in football after a horror challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland.

The Irishman was sent off for his tackle in the Manchester derby and given a three-match ban as well as a £5000 fine.

Keane then revealed in his 2002 autobiography the tackle was on purpose, which saw him given an extra five-match ban and £150,000 fine.

Haaland would never play a full 90 minutes of football again and former City chairman David Bernstein believes Keane got off lightly with his punishments.

He told The Athletic: "I've never forgotten it. From a personal point of view, that was the worst individual thing I've been directly involved in, and the worst I've ever seen on the pitch.

Image
PA

"As a human being, it was an awful thing to see. Roy Keane stood over him and basically said, 'Take that, you b******.'

"It was done in cold blood. I have never forgiven Keane for that. I think, frankly, it's dreadful he's accepted in football the way he is. After doing something like that, I think it's absolutely appalling.

"Whenever Keane turns up on television, I switch off. I just won't watch it.

"I'm appalled that he's still involved with football. It's just not right.

"Things happen, injuries do happen, but to do it deliberately and admit it the way he did, to sell his book, I think is completely beyond the pale."

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PA

Keane and Haaland, who is the father of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling, first came together during Manchester United vs Leeds United in 1997.

The Norwegian accused United captain Keane of feigning an injury - which is something he never forgot.

He penned in his autobiography: "I'd waited long enough. I f***ing hit him hard. The ball was there (I think).

"Take that you c**t. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries."

Keane still regularly appears on Sky Sports as a pundit and played for United for an additional four years after the incident.

Haaland, meanwhile, retired in 2003 and failed to string together a proper run of games after returning from injury.

Featured Image Credit: PA Images & Sky Sports

Topics: Manchester City, Football, Manchester United, Roy Keane