An Arsenal fan was given 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 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 happened, a trial at a London magistrates court heard.
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keane was head-butted by Law and fell through some doors in the incident. Law’s defence team said CCTV footage from inside the stadium showed Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.
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.”As well as being barred from attending football matches, Law was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and must pay legal costs of £650 ($830) plus a victim surcharge of £114.