Of course the top of this list has to feature Roy Keanes horror tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland. As far as being a professional footballer goes, purposely setting out to seriously hurt an opponent is likely the worst thing that you can do. Granted, there have been many great players over the years who have had moments of madness and lashed out at opposing players, but Roy Keane was involved in one of the most infamous and despicable incidents in the history of the beautiful game. When Man Utd played Leeds Utd early in the 1997/98 season, Keane suffered an injury as he attempted to tackle the Norwegian Haaland. As Keane lay on the turf, Haaland taunted him about claimed he was play-acting. Keane was most definitely really injured, and hed actually miss the rest of the season as Utd missed out on the Premier League to Arsene Wengers Arsenal. A firm believer in an eye for an eye, Keane would look to get his revenge on Haaland during a 2001 Manchester derby. Haaland was now playing for rivals Man City, and with five minutes left on the clock Keane struck. And struck hard. A horrendous knee-high tackle left Haaland in a heap. Keane was sent off, initially receiving a three-match ban and a £5,000 FA fine. Only further adding fuel to the fire, Keane would go on to discuss the incident in his 2002 autobiography, admitting how he wanted to hurt Haaland and that the damage done was most definitely intentional. In Roys own words, the book read: Id waited long enough. I f*cking hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c*nt. And dont ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries. Forcing the FAs hand, Keanes book led to the midfielder being charged with bringing the game into disrepute and being given a further five-match ban and an additional £150,000 fine. Sticking to his guns, Keano maintained his stance, even then partaking in an interview where he bluntly reiterated: My attitude was f*ck him. What goes around comes around. He got his just rewards. He f*cked me over and my attitude is an eye for an eye. As for Alf-Inge Haaland, his career would effectively be over after Keanes horror challenge. The Norwegian would actually finish the Manchester derby, play a friendly for his country, then play over an hour of the next Man City game and make four substitute appearances the following season. A long-standing injury to his left knee, not the right knee which Keane injured, would see Haaland officially retire in 2003.
