Manchester
United captain Roy Keane is appealing against the
two FA charges of disrepute related to an incident
with Alfie Haaland last year.
The
Football Association revealed on Friday that Keane
has denied the allegations made against him 16 days
ago and is seeking a personal hearing, which is expected
to take place in mid-October.
Keane, who is currently out of action following a
hip operation, committed a high-profile foul on Manchester
City skipper Haaland during the Old Trafford derby
clash on 21 April, 2001. He was sent off by referee
David Elleray on 86 minutes.
The incident in question, and Keane's subsequent description
of it in 'Keane: The Autobiography' - which was ghost-written
by the Irishman's colleague Eamonn Dunphy - are the
subject of separate FA charges.
The governing body's statement reads: "We can
confirm that Roy Keane has denied two charges of bringing
the game into disrepute (breach of FA Rule E1).
"Both charges, brought against the Manchester
United player by The FA on 4 September, relate to
an incident with Manchester City's Alf Inge Haaland
during the Manchester United v Manchester City FA
Premier League fixture on 21 April, 2001.
"The first charge follows the challenge itself
on Haaland, which is now alleged to have been improperly
motivated, with an apparent element of revenge.
"The second charge relates to Roy Keane allegedly
publishing, for financial profit or reward, an account
in his autobiography, in which he speaks of a desire
to exact revenge on Haaland, therefore bringing the
game into disrepute.
"A date for a hearing will be set in due course."
If found guilty on one or both counts, Keane could
face a suspension of around eight games as well as
receiving a hefty fine.
