Roy Keane: The Toughest Player I've Refereed—He Challenged Me Before I Even Pulled Out the Yellow Card -

Since retiring, ROY KEANE has become noticeably more composed; however, during his playing days, he was known for being a hard-hitting midfielder often caught up in disputes with referees.

Former Premier League referee Kevin Lynch has recounted his experiences with Keane, highlighting the often rocky nature of their relationship.

Former Premier League referee Kevin Lynch reflects on his interactions with Roy Keane
Credit: Alamy

Keane had a history of clashing with referees throughout his career
Credit: Reuters

Since retiring, he has softened his approach as a pundit
Credit: Getty

During a recent episode of the Under the Cosh podcast, Lynch commented: “I think Roy had little respect for referees, and honestly, we didn’t think highly of him either.

“So, it was a fairly balanced relationship.

“I recall one evening when I was refereeing him at Old Trafford. He seemed quite agitated, not only with himself but with the opposition, his teammates, and also with me.

“He was kicking everything in sight and giving me a hard time.

“Attempting to converse with him felt like trying to navigate through fog.

“So, I thought, ‘Fine, Roy. The next decision is mine.’

Lynch recalled a distinct moment in a match against Stoke, where he described how Keane made an impactful tackle that launched an opponent into the stands.

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However, before Lynch could display a yellow card, Keane was already right in his face, voicing his complaints.

He recalled: “Before I could even reach for the yellow card, Keane was already confronting me, asking, ‘Do you know who I f*****g well am?’

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Lynch added that during this confrontation, teammate Gary Neville walked by, which resulted in a comical exchange with the United icon.

He continued: “Just as he said that, Gary Neville happened to be passing by.

“I turned to him and quipped, ‘Gary, here’s a player who doesn’t know who he is!’

“To which Gary replied, ‘It’s Roy Keane, book the t**t.’

Keane, who has won the Premier League title seven times, also shares the record for the most red cards in English football history with 13, 11 of which were received while playing for Manchester United.

Despite this, his seven red cards in the Premier League position him second, following Patrick Vieira and Richard Dunne.