Football pundit Roy Keane found himself in hot water after being told he must apologise to golfer Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, for comments made about the 2025 Ryder Cup. The surprising request came from his former Manchester United teammate, Gary Neville, during a recent episode of The Overlap's Stick to Football podcast.
The Jesting Demand That Left Keane Baffled
In a conversation before McIlroy joined the podcast panel on 4 January 2026, Neville turned to Keane and stated, "You're going to have to apologise to Rory and his wife by the way for insulting her on the programme." A visibly stunned Keane retorted, "How did I insult her? For getting a new outfit, how is that an insult?"
Neville's remark referenced Keane's passionate monologue from an October 2025 edition of the podcast. Discussing the hostile atmosphere at the Ryder Cup in September 2025, Keane had dismissed concerns about fan abuse directed at players' families. He argued that professional athletes should be used to pressure and suggested a blunt solution for partners.
Keane's Original Comments and McIlroy's Reality
"Let me tell you what you say to your partner," Keane had declared. "If I was a golfer and my partner was getting abuse, I'd tell them, 'Just stay at the hotel, love. I'll see you tonight when I get back. Because you don't come to all the other tournaments. But, you've got a new outfit and you come to the Ryder Cup?'"
When McIlroy later appeared on the show, he was shown a clip of Keane's comments and admitted his wife "loved this." The 36-year-old Northern Irishman then provided context, revealing he had indeed suggested the partners avoid the tournament due to anticipated abuse from US fans at Bethpage Black.
"We knew going to New York that we were going to get a lot of stick, a lot of abuse," McIlroy explained. "I was saying, why don't the girls just go into New York City for the week, have a good time, we'll see you on Sunday night."
Partners' Defiance and European Victory
Despite the warnings, the wives and partners, including Stoll—who was reportedly hit by a cup of beer—chose to attend in support. "In fairness to them, they were like, no, we want to be out there, we want to support you," McIlroy said, praising their resilience. He expressed concern that any upset from the partners could affect the team's mood, but noted they successfully avoided bringing any negativity into the team room.
Team Europe ultimately triumphed with a 15-13 victory, overcoming the chaotic crowd behaviour. Following the event, PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague issued a formal apology to McIlroy for the abuse he and his family endured.
The light-hearted exchange between Neville and Keane highlights the lingering discussion around fan conduct in elite sport, even months after Europe's memorable win in New York.
