Respect is a two-way street in sport, as Roy Keane discovered throughout a career going toe-to-toe with the officials.
The Manchester United icon and long-time captain at Old Trafford was rarely afraid to voice his opinion to referees. And one former Premier League overseer has lifted the lid on how the men in black felt about him.
Despite players being discouraged from bearing down on referees to dispute decisions, such became a frequent sight whenever Keane took umbrage with a call. And retired shot-caller Kevin Lynch has finally aired his opinion on the former Republic of Ireland talisman, whose own team-mates may not have been his biggest fan, it seems.
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"I just don't think Roy liked referees, and in fairness we didn't f*****g like Roy Keane. It was a fairly balanced equation," said Lynch to a sea of laughter on Under the Cosh. "I remember refereeing him one night at Old Trafford, and he were obviously out of sorts with himself, the opposition, his own team-mates, and me.
"And he's kicking anything that moves, and he's giving me earache. I tried talking to him, that were like trying to plait fog. So I thought, 'Right, Roy. Next one's mine."
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Lynch went on to explain how Keane proceeded to vent his frustrations on a member of the opposition, Stoke City, by chipping "this little fella into Row Z." Naturally, the official reached to retrieve a card from his pocket when Keane piped up again.
"Before I can get the yellow card out, Keane's up [and] is suddenly in my face. And he looked at me and says, 'Do you know who I f*****g well am?' And as he said that, Ga#ry Neville were walking past.
"And I said, 'Gary, there's a player here who don't know who he is!' And Gary says, 'It's Roy Keane, book the t**t.'"
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Naturally, the Under the Cosh co-hosts burst into laughter at Neville's quick wit and urge to see his own team-mate cautioned. It was all in good humour, however, with both Keane and Neville long-time colleagues at Sky Sports since retiring.
The seven-time Premier League champion holds the joint-record for most red cards received in English football, having been dismissed 13 times in total. Not he could bring himself to admit as much after recently being confronted with his poor disciplinary record.
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