Keane has lost respect - Mabbutt

Former Tottenham captain Gary Mabbutt has hit out at Roy Keane's admission that he deliberately set out to seek revenge on Manchester City midfielder Alf Inge Haaland with that now infamous tackle last year.

In the serialisation of his autobiography, Keane revealed he targeted the Norwegian midfielder in the Manchester derby in April 2001 after Haaland had, in 1997, accused him of feigning injury when the then Leeds player was the victim of another bad tackle from Keane, who actually ruptured his cruciate ligaments in the process.

On Friday Haaland and City announced their intention to sue the former Irish skipper for his horror tackle and Mabbutt believes Keane overstepped the mark by seeking to injure another player.

"Roy Keane is a world class player but he should let his football do the talking," said Mabbutt, who himself came close to bringing legal action against John Fashanu in the 1993-94 season after suffering multiple fractures to his eye socket in an aerial clash with the Wimbledon striker.

"At the moment he seems intent on courting controversy. He will have lost a lot of respect from his fellow professionals.

"Player's can't think they are beyond the laws of the land. There are certain egos and images to play up to but it is totally unacceptable to do that to another (Professional Footballers' Association) union member.

"The biggest problem with football is that it is a contact sport and people can get away with things that would not be accepted in other walks of life," Mabbutt told The Guardian.

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said Keane's admission was always likely to result in legal action.

"It is obviously not good news but it is exactly what I thought would happen," said Taylor.

"I cannot believe he was advised to make such comments and by doing so, he immediately left himself vulnerable to an FA charge and this potential litigation.

"It is a very unfortunate situation because it has pitched player against player and club against club. With Manchester City being promoted as well, it is not particularly going to help a healthy rivalry in the city."