An Arsenal fan received a three-year football banning order on Thursday after headbutting former Manchester United star Roy Keane in a “gratuitous and senseless act of violence.”
Scott Law, 43, was found guilty of common assault after clashing with Keane following Arsenal’s Premier League win over United at the Emirates Stadium on September 3.
Keane and fellow television pundit Micah Richards were walking to do their post-match analysis when the attack occurred, as heard in a London magistrates court trial.
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Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keane was headbutted by Law and fell through some doors in the incident.
Law’s defense team argued that CCTV footage from inside the stadium showed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.
Keane, 52, told the court: “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… I was in shock.”
Keane said he suffered bruising on his chest and arms.
Law, who was sitting beneath the Sky Sports studio during the match, claimed Keane “picked me out and started telling me to see him outside. He was pointing to doors in the box.”
Law said he went inside the stadium to use the toilet and encountered Keane, who “collided into him.”
Prosecutor Simon Jones KC asked Law: “Are you seriously saying that Roy Keane ran into the top of your head?”
Law replied, “I put my head down in a defensive manner to protect my face.”
Jones argued that Law’s “ridiculous” defense had “changed dramatically” from a prepared statement he gave to police the day after the incident.
Delivering his verdict, District Judge Angus Hamilton said he believed Law had been “untruthful about what happened” during the match and was “sure Mr. Law assaulted Mr. Keane.”
In addition to being barred from attending football matches, Law was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay legal costs of £650 ($830) plus a victim surcharge of £114.
Reading a statement on behalf of Law, his defense lawyer said: “I was found guilty by a judge who excluded me at times from my own trial. I most definitely plan to appeal this conviction.”