Roy Keane turned up at Crucible and snooker star found it ‘quite off-putting’
Roy Keane once turned up at the Crucible to enjoy the World Championship – but ended up distracting Australian snooker star Neil Robertson.
World No.2 Robertson is a former world champion and is always highly fancied at the Crucible, despite his underwhelming record at the sport’s blue-ribband event.
But football legend Keane’s sheer presence in the audience proved unnerving for passionate Chelsea fan Robertson.
The former Manchester United midfielder has visited the iconic Sheffield theatre on more than one occasion to witness the game’s elite stars in the most prestigious tournament.
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And Robertson explained how he was in awe of Keane and concern over his verdict actually impacted his performance in a match against Marco Fu.
Seven-time Crucible King Stephen Hendry had told Robertson that he was stunned to see rock band Suede in attendance for one of his matches.
“In the front row of the press box, Suede, the pop group came into watch that match. I was a massive fan and I was like ‘Suede!’” Hendry revealed on his new Youtube channel.
2010 world champion Robertson replied: “That happened to me when I was playing (Marco) Fu one year and Roy Keane was there.
“I’m thinking ‘oh my god, I can’t miss in the balls here or he’s gonna think I’m terrible! It was actually quite off-putting.”
Robertson was likely referring to his only ever World Championship match against Hong Kong star Fu in 2017.
The ‘Thunder from Down Under’ was defeated 13-11 by Fu in the last 16 and has still not added another Crucible crown to his only world title over a decade ago.
Keane, meanwhile, was convinced to sign for United over a game of snooker with legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson in 1993.
Ferguson had caught wind of Keane’s possible switch to Blackburn Rovers, and requested a chat with the star over a match on the green baize.
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