A 43-year-old man has been found guilty of headbutting football pundit Roy Keane at a match.
Scott Law went on trial last week after pleading not guilty to a charge of common assault in relation to an incident where he and Mr Keane clashed on September 3rd last year.
The incident began when the former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United player and fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards were walking to do the final match analysis after Arsenalâs 3-1 victory over Manchester United, the trial at Highbury Corner Magistratesâ Court heard.
Mr Keane, who was working as a pundit for Sky Sports, was headbutted through doors at the Emirates Stadium by Law, of Waltham Abbey, Essex.
Lawâs defence team said CCTV footage from inside the stadium, shown in court, displayed Mr Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.
Giving evidence to the court, Mr Richards, a former Manchester City defender, denied accusations by Lawâs defence barrister that he had claimed to see the headbutt because he was âRoyâs mateâ and had become his âpuppyâ and âstoogeâ.
The ex-England international said he âgrappledâ with Law following the alleged incident.
Mr Richards said he was in âdisbeliefâ at what he witnessed, and âfelt sorry for Royâ who he described as a friend.
The pundit said âyou wouldnât get sent offâ for actions in CCTV footage, shown in court, that Lawâs defence team alleged showed Mr Keane elbowing the defendant in the face.
Following the match, footage was widely shared on social media of the former footballer stepping in to calm an apparent confrontation.
Law, who was sat beneath the Sky Sports studio during the match, said Mr Keane was âvery animatedâ and âangryâ throughout the game, adding he had ânever really seen that behaviour from someone who was working in the Sky boxâ.
He told the court: âMr Keane was puffing his cheeks out. He was right up against the glass. He was banging on the window.
âMr Keane picked me out and started telling me to see him outside. He was pointing to doors in the box.â
Law said he went inside the stadium to go to the toilet and encountered Mr Keane who âcollided into himâ.
Prosecutor Simon Jones KC asked Law: âAre you seriously saying that Roy Keane ran into the top of your head?â
Law, who cried while being questioned, said: âI put my head down in a defensive manner to protect my face.â
Mr Jones said Lawâs âridiculousâ defence had âchanged dramaticallyâ from a prepared statement he gave to police the day after the incident.
Asked about the apparent differences in this statement, Law replied: âIâd had no sleep â I was guilty by media.
âIt was the worst night of my life.â
Law, a civil engineer, said he had been an Arsenal fan âfrom birthâ and said his Emirates Stadium season ticket was his âprized possessionâ.
He told the court: âItâs the main part of my social circle. My wife organises her diary around Arsenal fixtures because she knows Iâll be there.â