An Arsenal fan has been found guilty of assaulting Manchester United icon Roy Keane. Scott Law, 43, was found guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court this morning (Thursday) over an incident that happened at a Premier League match last September.
Law had pleaded not guilty to a charge of common assault against Keane. The former midfielder was working as a pundit for Sky Sports during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over United on September 3 when he was headbutted by Law.
Keane claims to have fallen through doors after the attack.
During the trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, Keane said: “There was lots of noise and shouting, as you would expect at a football match.
“I was just walking and, before I knew it, I was hit. I felt the contact and fell back through some doors. I was absolutely not expecting it. The only way I can describe it is that I was in shock. I didn’t expect it to happen, not when I was in my workplace.”
Keane, who claims he suffered bruising on his chest and arms as a result, added in court: “Micah then gets hold of someone. He was just trying to get a grip of him and make sure he didn’t run off.
“I was saying ‘call the police’. For about 15 or 20 seconds Micah was holding him up against a wall (to stop) him getting away.”
Law’s defence team alleged that CCTV footage from inside the Emirates Stadium, which was shown in court, portrayed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.
The police officer in charge of the case, Detective Constable Phil Dickinson, told the court that there may have been contact from Keane but, speaking under cross-examination, said it “does not look like a deliberate elbow to the face”.
Referring to the footage, defence barrister Charles Sherrard KC asked the officer: “What possible explanation can there be for raising your elbow at that speed to hold someone?”
Dickinson, from the Metropolitan Police’s sporting investigations unit, replied: “In my opinion, he’s gone to grab hold of him.”
The officer added: “There may have been contact, but it does not look like a deliberate elbow to the face in my opinion.”
Keane’s Sky Sports colleague Micah Richards intervened in the incident. The former England and Manchester City defender pulled Law away from Keane. Richards also gave evidence during the trial and said: “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.”
Simon Jones KC, prosecution barrister, said: “Self-defence has no place in this case and there is simply no justification for the defendant’s violence.”
