Alf-Inge Haaland was furious on social media after a controversial refereeing look at the World Cup, but Roy Keane was not stopped – he took the opportunity to poke at his archenemy.
Roy Keane didn’t hold back when he hit back at Alf-Inge Haaland after the Norwegian’s outburst against the referee in Norway’s World Cup loss to England.
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On Saturday night, England secured a place in the World Cup semi-finals for only the fourth time ever, with a 2-1 victory over Norway. A heroic effort from Jude Bellingham made it 1-1 at full-time – before he scored the winning goal just minutes into the first extra time.
England will face Argentina in the semi-finals tomorrow Wednesday. – Then we will see which way the referee and VAR lean.
The result means that England will face reigning champion Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday night, while Norway’s surprising journey in the championship came to an end.
After the game, former Norwegian international Alf-Inge Håland – father of Manchester City star Erling Haaland – went out on social media and criticized referee Clément Turpin.
He wrote on social media: “You were saved by the referee. I hope you win the World Cup, but I feel like we were unfairly robbed today.”
In a now-deleted comment, he added, “Well done Bellingham and the referee.”
Keane hit back
Not long after, Keane – who has a brutal and violent rivalry with Håland from the old days – gave his own assessment of the referee’s efforts. But he could not help himself from “sticking to” his old archenemy.
On the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said:
“I think the referee gave England quite a few of the 50/50 decisions. I’m not talking about the big events. It just seemed like he was leaning a little towards England, and that happens in football. I’m definitely not saying that he cost Norway the game, but some decisions could have gone the other way.
Then came the plug:
“Will he [Haaland] even remember the game? Because every time I see him at matches, it seems like he’s drinking alcohol. Seriously, if you’ve had a few drinks, you probably see the game differently.
In one of the most controversial moments of the match, a Norwegian potential winning goal was annulled after Haaland was adjudged for pushing Elliot Anderson – thus preventing him from defending a Norwegian set-piece. This was probably one of the situations Alf-Inge was most frustrated with – but Keane thought the decision was correct.
“Listen, I will always try to go a little the other way (against England) if it’s 50/50, but push is push, and then he heads the ball. So there you have it.
Haaland answered – in four words
Keane’s comments quickly went viral on social media – and Haaland’s response was not long in coming. He wrote briefly and brutally:
“Once a pk always a pk.”
Both Gary Neville and Ian Wright backed Keane’s assessment of the game and criticized Haaland’s outcome.
– Is it sour grapes from Alf-Inge Haaland, when he says “well done Bellingham and the referee”? Wright asked.
“I think it was a bit low of him.
Neville added:
“I don’t think there was a game where I, as an England supporter, felt that we were lucky because of the referee. Against Ghana we were lucky – as Ezri Konsa’s penalty was not awarded. It’s when you’re lucky – when you feel like you’ve gotten away with something.
England will face Argentina in the semi-finals. Kick-off is at 20:00 at Atlanta Stadium. The winner will face France or Spain in the final.
Premier League club will meet Norway’s goalkeeper hero Ørjan Nyland next Tuesday
