Man guilty of assaulting Roy Keane with headbutt

An Arsenal fan has been found guilty of headbutting Roy Keane at a Premier League football match.

Scott Law, 43, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, was accused of assaulting the former Manchester United midfielder on 3 September last year.

The confrontation took place after Arsenal beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium, where ex-Ireland international Keane was working as a pundit.

Footage on social media appeared to show Keane's fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards stepping in to split up the fracas.

Keane, 52, said he was left "in shock" by the clash.

Law, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault, had told the court Keane told him to "meet him outside" after "banter turned more aggressive".

The ex-Man Utd midfielder was working as a pundit for Sky Sports at the time and was allegedly headbutted through doors at the Emirates Stadium by Law.

Law's defence team alleged that CCTV footage from inside the stadium, shown in court, displayed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.

Ex-Manchester City star Micah Richards, who was working with Keane at the match, said he was in "disbelief" about the incident and "felt sorry for Roy" whom he called a friend.

The 35-year-old denied accusations from Law's defence barrister that he had claimed to see the headbutt because he was "Roy's mate" and his "stooge".

Richards added: "I felt sorry for Roy. Just because of the fact you've come to work, to do your job and you've been assaulted.

"I could see he was physically shaken up. You do what any friend would do, or any colleague, step in and try to help the situation."

He added: "It was a surreal moment. We weren't going to a UFC match. We were at work."

Law, who was sat beneath the Sky Sports Studio during the match, said Keane was "angry" throughout the entire game.

He claimed Keane "picked me out and started telling me to see him outside".

Then, when Law went inside the stadium to go to the toilet, he encountered Keane who "collided into him".

Prosecutor Simon Jones KC asked Law: "Are you seriously saying that Roy Keane ran into the top of your head?"

Law, who cried while being questioned, said: "I put my head down in a defensive manner to protect my face."

Mr Jones said Law's "ridiculous" defence had "changed dramatically" from a prepared statement he gave to police the day after the incident.

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Asked about the apparent differences in this statement, Law replied: "I'd had no sleep - I was guilty by media.

"It was the worst night of my life."

Law, a civil engineer, said he had been an Arsenal fan "from birth" and said his Emirates Stadium season ticket was his "prized possession".

He told the court: "It's the main part of my social circle. My wife organises her diary around Arsenal fixtures because she knows I'll be there."