Roy Keane Sparks Controversy as Haaland Hits Back with Saddam Hussein Comparison
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has found himself at the centre of renewed controversy following the release of the second volume of his autobiography, which revisits one of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history — his tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland.
The Irishman, known for his uncompromising style both on and off the pitch, insists in his book that the 2001 challenge on Haaland — then of Manchester City — was not premeditated. Keane writes that Haaland even played for Norway just four days after the clash, pushing back against the long-held belief that the challenge ended Haaland’s career.
However, the remarks have not been well received in Norway. The controversy took an unexpected twist when Haaland, apparently alerted by former teammate Egil Østenstad, took to Twitter with a striking comparison. He posted an image of Keane alongside a photo of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, captioned: “You can’t take a man seriously when he has the same beard as…”
The tweet was deleted shortly afterward, and Haaland has not issued a further public statement, nor taken direct responsibility for the post.
The fallout has reignited debate around Keane’s conduct during his playing career. The 2001 incident, for which Keane received a red card and later a fine and suspension after admitting in his first autobiography that the foul was deliberate, has remained one of the most talked-about episodes in Premier League lore.
In his new autobiography, however, Keane appears to walk back the idea that the tackle was an act of revenge. He now frames it as aggressive but not calculated, claiming the consequences were overstated. “People say I ended his career, but he played again days later,” he notes in the book.
Despite Keane’s clarification, the response from Haaland — or at least from his social media account — underlines the enduring tension between the two men, more than two decades on.
Keane, now assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland national team and formerly with clubs including Aston Villa and Sunderland, has never shied away from speaking his mind. But this latest flare-up suggests that old wounds are far from healed — and that his reputation for ruthlessness continues to divide opinion.
As the book continues to make headlines, it remains to be seen whether either party will offer further clarification. For now, the online exchange has only added another controversial chapter to one of football’s most notorious rivalries.
