Roy Keane previously confessed that he’s considering quitting punditry due to the “hassle” he gets from fans.
The admission came before the Manchester United legend had an altercation with an Ipswich Town supporter following the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw at Portman Road on Sunday. While analysing the game pitch-side, Keane stormed over to the stands to have it out with a fan who had allegedly been goading him during the broadcast.
According to The Mail, the man lobbed verbal volleys at Keane, while a clip doing the rounds online shows the Irishman – who used to manage Ipswich – challenging the fan with what appeared to be an invite to settle their beef in the car park. Keane could be heard saying: “It’s no problem abusing me… [inaudible] meet me in the car park to discuss it I’ll wait for you in the car park, I’ll wait for you in the car park.”
After the face-off, Keane walked back to his spot as the Sky crew stepped in to cool things down, with co-pundit Jamie Redknapp caught on mic telling him: “Just leave it.” This isn’t Keane’s first tiff with a punter, and the former midfielder explained back in August that frequent altercations have been pushing him to his limit.
The ex-United skipper launched his punditry career in 2011 with ITV, and later became a staple on Sky Sports from the 2019/20 season. He admitted he enjoys the analytical side, having become a fan favourite due to his unfiltered comments on air, but is not fond of other aspects – including interactions with both rival and friendly fans.
“I don’t think I’ll be doing punditry in 10 years’ time,” Keane claimed on the Stick to Football podcast. “I love football but the hassle of matches, getting to games and the hassle of fans.
“I was in court a few months ago with somebody head-butting me, do you think I enjoy that side of it? Absolutely not. The games are fine. Getting to the games, parking up, people shouting your name good stuff, bad stuff it’s a nuisance. Being a pundit in 10 years, not.”
Keane’s courtroom drama earlier this year came following a nasty run-in post-Arsenal‘s 3-1 victory over United at the Emirates in September 2023. He clashed with a fan as he made his way back to Sky’s studio for full-time. Arsenal season ticket holder Scott Law, 43, was found guilty of common assault and given a three-year football banning order for head-butting Keane – an ordeal which has clearly taken its toll on him.
While chatting with Gary Neville, Ian Wright, and Jamie Carragher on ‘The Overlap on Tour’, Keane suggested his retirement wasn’t far off, and admitted he fancied moving overseas. “In the next couple of years, I reckon I will be moving abroad… putting it out there,” he told his colleagues.
(Image: Sky Sports)
When Carragher nudged him to reveal where he might end up, Keane replied: “Do you know what, Switzerland, maybe? Switzerland is beautiful.”
Despite these getaway dreams, Keane is expected to continue with Sky Sports until at least the end of the current 2024/25 Premier League season. He’s also a regular on ITV during their coverage of England matches.