Arsenal fan receives 3-year football ban order for head-butting Roy Keane
An Arsenal fan was recently handed a three-year football banning order following an incident where he head-butted former Manchester United star, Roy Keane, in what was described as a “gratuitous and senseless act of violence”.
Scott Law, 43, was convicted of common assault after a confrontation with Keane post Arsenal’s Premier League victory over United at the Emirates Stadium on September 3.
During a trial at a London magistrates court, it was revealed that Keane and fellow TV pundit Micah Richards were on their way to do their post-match analysis when the altercation took place.
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The incident escalated as Law allegedly head-butted Keane, causing him to fall through some nearby doors.
In his defense, Law’s legal team presented CCTV footage from the stadium showing Keane elbowing him in the face. Keane, in his testimony, stated, “I was simply walking and out of the blue, I was struck. I felt the impact and stumbled backwards through the doors. I was absolutely taken aback… I was in disbelief.” Keane reported suffering bruises on his chest and arms from the scuffle.
Law, who was seated below the Sky Sports studio during the match, claimed that Keane singled him out and provoked him to step outside, pointing towards the nearby doors in the box.
Law recounted that he went inside the stadium for a restroom visit and ran into Keane, leading to the collision.
Prosecutor Simon Jones KC questioned Law, “Are you claiming that Roy Keane deliberately ran into your head?” Law responded, “I lowered my head in a defensive gesture to guard my face.”
Jones criticised Law’s defense as “absurd”, highlighting that his narrative had significantly shifted from the statement he provided to the police a day after the incident.
District Judge Angus Hamilton, while delivering the verdict, expressed disbelief in Law’s account of the incident, deeming him “dishonest about the events” and concluded that Law had indeed assaulted Keane.
In addition to the football ban, Law was instructed to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay legal expenses totaling £650 ($830), along with a victim surcharge of £114.
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