Micah Richards ‘grappled’ with man accused of Keane assault, court told

The former Manchester City defender Micah Richards told a court he “grappled” with a man accused of headbutting his punditry partner Roy Keane inside Arsenal’s football stadium.

Scott Law, 43, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault against Keane relating to an incident on 3 September last year after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United. The former Manchester United midfielder, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, was allegedly headbutted through doors at the Emirates Stadium by Law, of Waltham Abbey, Essex.

Richards told Highbury Corner magistrates court on Friday that he was in “disbelief” about the incident, adding that he “felt sorry for Roy”, who he described as a friend. The former England international said “you wouldn’t get sent off” for CCTV footage, shown in court, that Law’s defence team alleged showed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face. Richards also denied accusations by Law’s defence barrister that he had claimed to see the headbutt because he was “Roy’s mate” and had become Keane’s “stooge” and “puppy”.

Richards told the court: “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 said: “It was a surreal moment. We weren’t going to a UFC match. We were at work.”

After the match, footage was widely shared on social media of Richards stepping in to calm an apparent confrontation. Discussing the aftermath of the incident, Richards said: “I grappled with the gentleman for a while. I believe I was saying to him: ‘What have you done that for?’ I sort of grabbed him and pushed him towards further out of the corridor. I was basically trying to restrain him until security could deal with the matter.”

Richards said Keane was “cool” and “calm” in the aftermath. He said: “I know he’s got this persona of being the hardman but my relationship with Roy – we get on so well because he’s such a great guy. He was cool, he was calm in this situation. I felt a little bit sorry for him because we’ve had incidents at stadiums where fans might give you a little shove or use words. But after the incident, I was in shock and so was Roy. I was in disbelief, like had that really happened?”

Discussing the moments before the alleged incident, Richards said he “saw a gentleman running towards Roy”. He said: “I heard shouting and then as he came closer to Roy, I see him arch his head back and just try to headbutt him.” Richards demonstrated the action in court by moving his head back and forward and said Keane was hit “more on his jaw” than his face, pointing to his lower jaw.

Defence barrister Charles Sherrard KC alleged Richards had not seen any headbutt and had claimed to see it as “Roy’s mate” and his “puppy”, as he said: “You have become Roy Keane’s stooge.” Richards replied: “Strongly disagree.” He told Sherrard: “You tried to mix my words a lot today, but I know what I saw.”

Law’s defence team alleged that CCTV footage from inside the stadium, shown in court, displayed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face and delivering an “upper cut elbow to the nose”. Richards denied this and said his colleague was “trying to defend himself”. He said: “You wouldn’t get sent off for that – standing your ground.”

During his cross-examination of the footballer, Sherrard described Richards as a “jovial cuddly bear” and contrasted his persona with Keane’s “moody sombre appearance”. Asked about this description of his colleague, Richards replied: “I know him a bit differently but that’s how he can be perceived.”

Richards said pundits always interacted with supporters, “especially when we’re at the stadiums”. He said: “We always have a bit of banter. My personality is quite bubbly.” Questioned about his football club loyalties, Richards said: “Obviously I’m an Arsenal fan, so I always want them to do well.”

The trial continues.