Roy Keane's verdict on Erling Haaland's dad as bitter feud reignited - 'I don't care'

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Roy Keane insists he never meant to cause serious harm to Alf-Inge Haaland with that infamous challenge more than two decades ago. The rivalry between Keane and Haaland started when the ex-Manchester United star ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during a match against Leeds United in 1997.

Haaland controversially stood over the Irishman and claimed the midfielder was feigning injury. Reflecting on the incident, the former striker said: "He tried to tackle me and I got the free kick.

"He was lying on the ground, and I just told him to, 'Get up' as you normally do with players - nothing more than that. I wasn't trying to intend anything against him, but obviously, he took that very hard."

This ignited a rage within Keane, who encountered Haaland four years later during a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with the Norwegian playing for City. Seizing his moment for revenge, Keane went in on Haaland.

He was dismissed for stamping on his knee with considerable force, something he acknowledged wasn't accidental in his 2002 autobiography. He said: "I'd waited long enough. I f****** hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that , you c***. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries."

Keane was handed a three-match ban and a £5,000 fine initially, but this was extended once he confessed to deliberate intent in his book. An additional £150,000 fine and a five-match suspension were imposed.

The 54-year-old remains unapologetic about his infamous tackle on Haaland, insisting he never intended to cause serious harm. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: "This is my last time talking about this tackle, the Haaland one.

"I still don't think it was a bad tackle, I really don't. I don't care what anyone says. It's not as bad as everyone thinks it is. When you play sport at that speed we played at, there's a difference between hurting somebody and injuring somebody - big difference. That's my argument. I was trying to hurt him, not injure somebody."

Haaland, who retired in 2003 due to an injury on the leg opposite to the one Keane targeted, has a different perspective. In 2024, he said: "Is that a coincidence, or isn't it? If you're in the ground and someone hits you in the right leg, you can still twist your other leg. It can get injured and that's probably what happened.

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"I haven't played a full 90 minutes after that incident, that's the hard fact. And people can judge whatever they want. Obviously, I found out afterwards that it was with intent and he was seeking revenge and all these things. I think that's a bit sad. Sad for football and it was not good for me either at the time."

Keane maintains that Haaland turned out for his country just four days following the clash and subsequently featured for City. He said: "Haaland finished the game and played four days later, for Norway.

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