Dramatic images have emerged of Roy Keane appearing to elbow a football fan in the nose after the former footballer fell victim to an alleged assault.
Scott Law, 43, allegedly “headbutted” the 53-year-old ex-pro while he was working as a pundit for Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over his old club Manchester United in September 2023.
Law, an Arsenal fan from Essex, is said to have confronted Keane when a tight VAR call ruled out a late Manchester United winner.
The 43-year-old allegedly knocked Keane backwards through some doors at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in North London – but has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault.
Law is said to have confronted Keane when a tight VAR call ruled out a late Manchester United winner
PA/Standard
Law says he had been rushing to go to the toilet, and had told officers in a prepared statement that Keane had “approached him in an aggressive manner” which caused him to throw his head back in self-defence.
The incident was caught on CCTV, and its aftermath on social media, but now Law’s lawyers have enhanced the prior footage, presenting a slowed-down video clip to the trial, arguing it shows Keane throwing an “upper cut elbow” at their client’s nose.
Defence barrister Charles Sherrard KC said “the red mist descended” for Keane when the VAR ruling negatively impacted his former team, and claimed he had been taunted by Arsenal fans.
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The apparent altercation between Keane (blue) and Law (green) was caught on CCTV
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Sherrard said: “You chose to confront him… When you saw him, you said ‘say it to my face you fat c**t’.”
Keane, speaking at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, replied: “I said that when I was at work? Disagree.”
Sherrard suggested Keane was caught on tape using “gratuitous violence” via throwing his elbow and “smashing his nose”.
Despite Keane saying the footage shows him attempting to prevent Law leaving the scene, Sherrard asked: “How are you stopping someone getting away with an elbow to the face?”
Roy Keane, seen leaving the court at which Richards is set to appear on Friday
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Keane replied: “I’ve got bags in my hands, I was trying to grab him, to stop him from getting out… I must have said nine or ten times, someone call the police. I’m trying to stop him from leaving.”
Also in video footage seen at court, fellow ex-footballer and pundit Micah Richards can be seen apparently grabbing hold of the 43-year-old defendant before letting him go.
Richards was heard saying: “Are you crazy? Are you f**king mad? Say sorry,” the court was told.
The former Manchester City man reportedly said later: “Someone needs to arrest him… He’s just assaulted Roy Keane, don’t let him go.”
Scott Law, 43, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault
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Richards is expected to appear in court on Friday – the date when the trial is expected to conclude – in order to give his evidence.
The trial continues.
