Writing the Wrongs

‘IF Roy Keane’s autobiography were a true self-made tome, we would possibly expect it be called ‘Roy: Hard But Fair’, ‘Roy: Being Red – Seeing Red’ or ‘Roye’.

The sweet and gentle Roy

Instead, the much-hyped version being serialised in the national press offers just the simple ‘Keane – The Autobiography’. Simple man – simple title. But it isn’t just Roy’s work, as the book is collaboration between the genius of Keane and the writing know-how of Eamonn Dunphy.

Those unaware of Dunphy’s works will nonetheless be able to call to mind the dishevelled figure who spent the summer beaming in live from Dublin to explain how Roy Keane had been wronged and that the entire Irish team were out to get him. It was not Roy who had let the Republic down, went the argument, it was the team that had turned on their captain.

This was a hard position to defend. Dunphy was building an argument. And Dunphy knows what to say and when to say it. When required, the skilled writer can pull on the mask of ”in all seriousness” and say on RTL television the footballing gem: ”As a striker, you know better than anyone that a team can’t win unless they score goals.”

Dunphy’s skill is talking sense while keeping his words and structure in the sphere of football chat. And so in his new book lines like: ”I’d waited long enough. I ******* hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you ****” are delivered less from Keane’s foul mouth and more from Dunphy’s sensationalist pen.

So when we hear that Alf-Inge Haaland, the player on the end of that Keane tirade, is considering legal action, we should not make a beeline for the courtrooms. Even when it is noted that the words were delivered by Keane after he’d nobbled the Manchester City player.

If Keane has deliberately attacked another player, then any criminal case will involve the police. (Nowadays, Keane’s actions would result in an instant £80 fine for anti-social behaviour).

But the law regarding injuries occurring on the sports field is essentially a branch of the law of negligence, albeit encompassing the law relating to assault and battery. The onus falls upon the victim to prove that the player had gone into the tackle with the intent to injure.

This must be weighted against the risk of being a competitive, professional footballer. For example, Paul Elliot, when at Chelsea, lost his case against Dean Saunders and Liverpool FC (Dean Saunders, who was playing for Liverpool at that time tackled Paul Elliott, a Chelsea Defender. Elliott’s knee ligament was torn and sadly he was unable to play again).

The courts ruled that Elliott’s loss, however unfortunate, was in the course of normal play. But a court did decide in favour of Brian McCord, a former Stockport County player, when his career was prematurely ended due to a high tackle by Swansea City’s John Cornforth.

The court ruled that Cornforth’s tackle ”was an error which was inconsistent with his taking reasonable care towards his opponent”. An award of £250,000 was ordered to be paid to the injured party.

And in 1988, Gordon Watson of Bradford City sued Kevin Gray and Huddersfield Town after a high tackle left Watson with a fractured leg. Watson won, because, the court said, Gray should have known that the type of tackle he was making carried with it a significant risk of serious injury.

But what seems bad for Keane is tempered by the fact his words come in a book, and that they have been conjured with the help of a professional writer. Keane wants his book to sell; so does Dunphy. And that asks for a splash of scandal.

In any case, nothing will happen until the book has been published, and the words can be read in context. Then we might hear how Keane has breached the peace (see every game), acted in a threatening manner (call Andy D’Urso) and insulted the racial origins of the Irish team manager.

Alf-Inge Haaland had best get in line. ‘

Posted: 15th, August 2002 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink