Did Roy Keane ever apologize to Haaland?

Every time Erling Haaland scores another record-breaking goal—which is often—an old ghost story from football’s past resurfaces. It’s a story of a brutal tackle, a years-long grudge, and a famous football villain whose name is constantly linked to the Haaland family: Roy Keane.

But this infamous tale doesn’t actually involve the young superstar. The Keane Haaland feud centers on his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who was also a professional player. Their on-field history culminated in a moment so shocking that it has followed both men for over two decades, becoming a legendary act of sporting revenge.

The incident sparked a controversy that has never truly faded, creating a strange tension whenever Keane, now a fearsome TV pundit, analyzes Erling’s games. This all leads back to one persistent question at the heart of the story: Did Roy Keane ever apologize to Haaland?

What Was the “Revenge Tackle” That Ignited a Decades-Long Feud?

The moment that cemented this infamous football feud happened on April 21, 2001. It was during a Manchester derby—the fiercely contested match between local rivals Manchester United and Manchester City. These games are always packed with tension, but this one was about to become legendary for all the wrong reasons.

Late in the match, Manchester United’s captain, Roy Keane, tracked down City’s Alf-Inge Haaland. Instead of playing the ball, Keane launched himself into a horrific, knee-high tackle, driving his studs directly into Haaland’s right leg. It wasn’t a clumsy mistake or a mistimed challenge; it was a shocking and calculated act of violence played out in front of millions.

The referee immediately showed Keane a red card, sending him off the pitch for the foul. But as he walked away, Keane leaned over the downed Haaland, who was writhing in pain, and shouted at him, showing absolutely no remorse. It was a chilling display that made it clear this was deeply personal.

For those watching, the sheer brutality of the act was baffling. Why would a star player do something so deliberate? The answer wasn’t found in that single moment, but in a grudge that had been simmering for four long years. This was an act of cold, calculated revenge.

Why Did Roy Keane Target Alf-Inge Haaland in the First Place?

To understand Keane’s fury, we have to rewind four years to a 1997 match between Manchester United and Haaland’s team at the time, Leeds United. During the game, Keane tried to tackle Haaland but ended up injuring himself, tearing a crucial ligament in his knee. It was a devastating injury that would keep him out of football for almost an entire year.

As Keane lay on the ground in agony, Haaland stood over him. Instead of showing concern, he angrily accused Keane of faking the injury to try and win a penalty. Haaland was unaware of how serious the damage was, but for Keane, the accusation was the ultimate insult from a fellow professional, delivered at a moment of extreme vulnerability.

That moment of perceived disrespect festered in Keane’s mind. He nursed the grudge for the next four years, waiting for his chance to settle the score. While Haaland may have forgotten the incident, Keane viewed it as a personal slight that demanded retribution, turning a simple on-field spat into a long-term vendetta.

How Did Keane’s Autobiography Turn a Foul into a Scandal?

While the red card punished the tackle itself, the story exploded a year later with the release of Keane’s autobiography. In the book, he confessed his premeditated intent, leaving no room for doubt. He wrote: “I’d waited long enough… I f***ing hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***.” This wasn’t just describing a foul; it was a written confession to an act of vengeance.

His words transformed the incident from a sporting controversy into a full-blown scandal. Publicly admitting you intended to injure a fellow professional is one of football’s greatest sins. As a result, The Football Association (The FA), English football’s governing body, charged Keane with “bringing the game into disrepute”—an offense for damaging the sport’s reputation through his actions and words.

The FA’s punishment was far harsher than the original ban for the tackle. Keane received a massive £150,000 fine and was suspended for five more games. The message was clear: the cold-blooded admission was seen as even worse than the initial act, cementing the tackle’s infamy and fueling the debate over its true impact.

Did Keane’s Tackle Actually End Alf-Inge Haaland’s Career?

This leads to the most enduring part of the story: the belief that Keane’s tackle single-handedly ended Alf-Inge Haaland’s career. It’s a dramatic conclusion that has been repeated for decades, cementing the foul’s brutal legacy. The truth, however, is not so straightforward.

Surprisingly, the facts tell a different tale. Haaland was able to finish the match after the foul and even played for the Norwegian national team just four days later. This crucial detail is often lost in the legend of the vicious tackle, but it proves the impact wasn’t as immediate as many believe.

Haaland’s retirement was ultimately caused by a long-standing injury to his other knee—the left one. While the infamous foul on his right knee was brutal, it wasn’t the final blow. Haaland himself has since clarified that pre-existing problems were the primary reason he had to hang up his boots, not that single moment of malice from Keane.

So, Did Roy Keane Ever Say Sorry?

After all the controversy, the bans, and the endless debate, the answer is remarkably simple: no. Roy Keane has never publicly or privately apologized to Alf-Inge Haaland for the tackle. Instead, he has consistently defended his actions, framing the incident not as a mistake but as a calculated act of retribution that he stands by.

In his reflections years later, Keane has drawn a fine line. He makes it clear that he never wanted to injure Haaland, but he absolutely intended to hurt him. To Keane, it was a score being settled on the pitch. He has stated he feels no regret for the tackle itself, only that he received a red card for it. For the man at the center of it all, there is nothing to be sorry for.

The Legacy of the Feud in the Modern Era

More than two decades later, this story persists not just as a piece of football history, but as a living, breathing part of the modern game. Its endurance is fueled by a perfect storm of irony and generational talent. The man who committed one of football’s most infamous acts of revenge is now one of its most prominent pundits, paid to analyze the son of the man he targeted.

Every time Roy Keane praises Erling Haaland’s incredible skill or questions his performance, the unspoken history looms in the background. It adds a layer of tension and fascination to his commentary, turning a simple analysis into a moment loaded with context. The feud has created a unique legacy where past and present collide on our screens, ensuring that the story of Keane and Haaland—father and son—remains as compelling as ever.