Roy Keane reportedly ‘headbutted’ by fan during Arsenal vs Manchester United as Micah Richard intervenes
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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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.”
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.
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Featured Image — @sjayy24s (via X)/Sky Sports