An Ipswich fan who alleges to have been challenged to a fight by Roy Keane has disclosed the cause of the heated altercation with Manchester United’s ex-captain. Keane, who once managed Ipswich, was providing punditry for United’s visit to Portman Road on Sunday.
Post-match, he was seen in a verbal exchange with some home fans, seemingly telling one person that he would “wait for him in the car park”. Ipswich supporter Neil Finbow has taken to social media claiming to be one of the fans confronted by Keane.
His public Facebook account features several posts about Sunday’s incident and past Ipswich matches. “New claim to fame just been offered out into the carpark by Roy Keane after a few choice words even Jamie Redknapp had to come over to get him away just ya average Sunday evening out,” Finbow penned.
Mirror Football have reached out to Finbow for additional comment. When questioned about what he said to Keane, Finbow confirmed he had addressed the Irishman regarding his tenure as Town manager.
Keane managed between 2009 and 2011, ending 15th in the Championship in his sole full season, and was dismissed in January 2011 with the team just above the relegation zone.
“Yep did remind him he set us back five years and ruined our football club – I also mentioned he wasn’t fit to step foot anywhere near our ground,” Finbow posted on Facebook.
“Oh and I mentioned about him walking out on a World Cup and breaking [Alf-Inge] Halaand’s leg and putting it in his autobiography I hate the bloke and that’s been boiling up since he got sacked all those years ago.”
In a subsequent post adorned with cry-laughing emojis, he cheekily added that Keane was “offering us all outside”.
In a more positive spirit, however, the supporter took a moment to laud Ipswich Town, writing: “Apart from Keane being a k*** that was an enjoyable game against a so called ‘one of the biggest clubs in the world’ proud of the boys in blue ITID.”
Despite Manchester United seizing the lead swiftly through Marcus Rashford, Omari Hutchinson responded for Kieran McKenna’s side to level the game.
Post-match, McKenna expressed a mix of satisfaction and desire for more to BBC Sport: “We could have won the game, we finished the first half in the ascendancy and deserved to be at least level.
“The second half was competitive, we had a few big chances but had to be disciplined with our defending.
“On another day we could have won it but if you concede an early goal the game could have run away from us so credit to the players. When we have a setback then everyone responds really well and doubled down on what we needed to do. As the half went on we got more aggressive and more brave.”
Ruben Amorim’s debut as United head coach didn’t culminate in a win, but the Portuguese tactician praised the Premier League after the match.
He told BBC Sport, “Not a good result but it is a tough league with high intensity. It is a great environment, a great spectacle. But when the game starts it is like I am back in Portugal or the third division.”
“I am so focused everything is the same. You guys are so lucky to have the best league in the world. I am really happy to be here but today I don’t feel much because I like to win games.”
