Erling Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was the target of one of the Premier League's most infamous tackles, delivered by Roy Keane during a heated Manchester derby in 2001. The incident was the culmination of a bitter rivalry that began four years earlier.
The Origins of the Feud
The bad blood started in 1997 when Keane suffered a cruciate ligament injury while attempting to tackle Haaland, then playing for Leeds United. Haaland stood over the injured Keane and accused him of faking the injury, a moment Keane never forgot.
In his 2002 autobiography, Keane wrote: "I’d waited long enough. I f****** hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries."
The Reckoning in 2001
Four years later, Haaland was playing for Manchester City when the two met again at Old Trafford. In the final minutes, Keane launched a wild, knee-high tackle on Haaland, earning a straight red card. The tackle became one of the most notorious in Premier League history, resulting in a three-match ban and a £5,000 fine for Keane.
Contrary to popular myth, Haaland finished the match and even played for Norway four days later. The tackle did not end his career, though he later retired due to ongoing knee issues.
Keane's Lack of Remorse
Keane showed little regret for the tackle. In his 2014 autobiography, he explained: "I did want to nail him and let him know what was happening. I wanted to hurt him and stand over him and go: ‘Take that, you c***.’ I don’t regret that. But I had no wish to injure him."
He added: "It was action; it was football. It was dog eats dog. I’ve kicked lots of players and I know the difference between hurting somebody and injuring somebody. I didn’t go to injure Haaland."
The Football Association fined Keane an additional £150,000 and banned him for five more matches following the publication of his autobiography.
Legacy of the Feud
Alf-Inge Haaland's son, Erling Haaland, now plays for Manchester City, adding a new chapter to the family's connection with the club. The feud between Keane and the elder Haaland remains one of the Premier League's most memorable rivalries, symbolizing the intense physicality and personal animosity that can define top-level football.
