Roy Keane has finally shared his side of the story about the confrontation with a fan after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich last month.
The incident, which took place during a break in the match, grabbed plenty of attention when footage of the exchange went viral.
What Happened at Portman Road?
Keane, who was at Portman Road working for Sky Sports, was confronted by a fan from Ipswich after the game.
The fan, who seemed to be taunting Keane from the sidelines, provoked the former Manchester United captain into walking over to him.
Despite the heated exchange, Keane was quick to downplay the situation, stating that there was never a moment where he lost his temper.
He later revealed that the fan didn’t even show up to the car park as suggested for a further discussion.
Keane Explains His Side
On the Stick to Football podcast, Keane reflected on the incident, clarifying that it was more about the frustration of fans venting their emotions.
“I wasn’t angry at the Ipswich Town game,” Keane said.
He explained that it’s common for fans to lash out, especially after a match, and that he simply asked the fan if he wanted to talk things through later in a calmer setting.
“If you want to abuse me or have a discussion, I’m working here,” Keane explained, mentioning how the fan was swearing in front of children.
He added, “I said, ‘I’ll see you in the car park,’ but he wasn’t there!”
Fans and the Aftermath
The exchange with the fan became even more intense when other supporters joined in, calling Keane names.
It seemed the fans’ frustration stemmed from Keane’s brief and turbulent time managing Ipswich, where he only managed to secure a 15th-place finish in the Championship before being let go in 2011.
Keane hasn’t been involved in club management since.
Redknapp’s Role and Security
Jamie Redknapp, who was also on-site, was quick to step in to help defuse the situation, along with security personnel.
Sky Sports reviewed the footage of the incident and chose not to take further action against Keane.
He was back in the studio for the next weekend’s match, where Manchester City faced Liverpool at Anfield.
Other Surprises After the Ipswich Game
The aftermath of the Ipswich-United draw also saw a unique moment with Ruben Amorim, the newly appointed Manchester United boss, giving a pitchside interview.
However, his moment was interrupted by pop star Ed Sheeran, a massive Ipswich fan, who joined the Sky Sports crew and embraced Redknapp.
Sheeran later took to Instagram to apologize, admitting that he didn’t realize Amorim was in the middle of an interview and felt a bit awkward about the interruption.
Amorim, however, downplayed the situation, calling it “nothing.”
Keane’s comments on the podcast shed light on a situation that many initially misunderstood, showing that there was more to the fan confrontation than met the eye.
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