Manchester United legend turned pundit Roy Keane was reportedly headbutted by an Arsenal fan following the London club’s dramatic home win against the Red Devils on Sunday evening.
Nearly 20 years on from his infamous bust-up with Patrick Viera in the tunnel at Highbury, it appears the former Irish enforcer and grumpy midfielder found himself involved in some friction with a fan at Arsenal’s current ground too.
In fact, according to multiple outlets, Keane was allegedly headbutted by the angered Gunner on the way to carrying out the full-time analysis and his other post-match duties on Sky Sports whilst waiting for the lift down to the pitchside.
Said to have occurred just after Man United’s Alejandro Garnacho thought he scored the winner only to be ruled offside before the home team scored a double at the death to seal the victory, fellow pundit and former Man City defender Micah Richards can be seen grabbing the fan and separating the two.
Footage of the moments just after Roy Keane was supposedly headbutted by the unidentified fan.
While the clip above seemingly cuts off just after the altercation, the Arsenal supporter is said to have headbutted the 52-year-old in the chest and the chin area before his Richards intervenes and security is called.
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Speaking to Express Sport, an eye-witness said the incident occurred “shortly before the 90th-minute mark in the Highbury Bar for platinum members” and Keane was supposedly “a mark between his eyebrows.”
After pushing the fan away and against a door, the witness said “Richards was very forceful at keeping the fan from attacking Keane and neither their security nor the door security could split the two apart”, adding that “Keane was asking nearby staff to call the police.”
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Once the unruly supporter was eventually escorted by additional security, they also claimed that they “noticed a small amount of blood on the floor on the route where the fan was led out.”
Issuing a statement to the media, a Sky Sports spokesperson said: “We understand the police are investigating an alleged assault by a member of the public immediately preceding the footage circulating on social media. In the footage seen, Micah Richards was acting to diffuse a situation.”
Thus far, the Met Police have said they are “investigating following an assault that is alleged to have occurred at the Emirates Stadium during an Arsenal v Manchester United match on Sunday, 3 September”, but that “there have been no arrests” and “enquiries are ongoing.”
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Regardless, both Keane and Richards still went on to analyse the ever-tense fixture as if nothing had happened and many have applauded the pair for their professionalism in staying on the panel to talk about the game.
The pair obviously had plenty to analyse following an eventful evening at the Emirates which has had plenty of VAR controversy surrounding it, especially from aggrieved United fans.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
4th September 2023 
