Comedian Ricky Gervais has poked fun at Roy Keane in a humorous social media post referencing the pundit’s angry confrontation with an Ipswich fan at Portman Road.
The former Manchester United captain furiously hit back at a supporter who was abusing him and told the fan to continue their clash in the ‘car park’ moments after United’s 1-1 draw with the Tractor Boys at Portman Road on Sunday.
Keane, along with fellow Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp and Izzy Christiansen, were receiving final instructions from producers to come back out following an ad-break before the Irishman set off to confront one particular fan, who had stayed behind to goad him.
In a video exclusively filmed by Mail Sport, the 53-year-old, who managed Ipswich between 2009 and 2011, could be seen putting down his microphone, placing his hands in his pockets and walking over to confront the fan directly before a heated back-and-forth ensued.
A subsequent video shared to social media after the match showed Keane continually telling the fan to ‘wait and discuss it in the car park’ as abusive words were hurled in his direction.
Now Gervais has taken the chance to mock the ex-Ireland skipper for his behaviour with a hilarious remark, responding to an announcement that he was set to appear on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, which features Keane as a pundit.
Ricky Gervais has poked fun at Roy Keane after the Irishman confronted a supporter at Ipswich
Keane was working for Sky Sports on Sunday night during Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge
Gervais referenced the row after appearing on the Stick to Football podcast, featuring Keane
He posted on X: ‘I’m just glad Roy didn’t want to chat to me in the car park.’
The After Life star’s appearance on the podcast was a surprise one with the show typically playing host to former footballers and fellow pundits, but Gervais revealed on the episode how he got back into the sport.
‘I do – I love it [football] now,’ he said. ‘I went off it for about 30 years. I wasn’t anti-football, I played at school, and I actually played football until I was about 30.
‘Probably from the age of 30 to 60 I gave up on [playing] – I didn’t have a team. I watched England twice a year whenever they were playing. I was aware of everything, but I got back into it in COVID during lockdown, when they were doing those games with no crowd.’
The creator of The Office added: ‘I got into it so much and then what really got me back into it was a documentary – Sunderland ‘Til I Die. I loved that show – the fact that it was like a religion to them. The whole community was involved, it was a really well-made documentary, then I saw the struggle of the players, the finances, the manager.
‘Then I watched the Manchester City one, the Leeds one, the [Mikel] Arteta one, and I was hooked. Now I’m fascinated with it, I watch every game that is on TV.’
This week it was confirmed that Sky Sports will not beef up security for its pundits after Roy Keane‘s altercation.
Sky carry out a risk assessment on each fixture and, for those deemed high risk, security staff accompany pundits through public areas. When it comes to abuse from stands, there is little they can do and pundits are known to expect a torrid time at certain grounds.
The After Life star made a joke about the incident on social media on Wednesday evening
Keane bit back at an Ipswich fan who was abusing him during an ad-break at Portman Road
Keane holds a tense relationship with many Ipswich fans after his managerial spell at the club
Gervais revealed on the show that Sunderland ‘Til I Die had inspired his new love of football
Keane was spoken to by the broadcaster following the incident in Suffolk, with versions of events taken from the rest of their line-up which included Redknapp, Kelly Cates and Izzy Christiansen.
Sky declined to expand on those conversations although it is understood that they have sympathy for the position he found himself in.
Witnesses say Keane was the target of ongoing abuse from a pocket of home fans which ‘consistently overstepped the mark’.
One fan, Neil Finbow, has posted on social media of his ‘new claim to fame’, boasting of being ‘offered out onto the car park by Roy Keane after a few choice words’.
When asked what triggered the confrontation Finbow proudly stated that he ribbed Keane about his failure at Ipswich along with other issues such as his infamous tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland.
‘Did remind him he set us [Ipswich] back five years and ruined our football club,’ Finbow posted. ‘Also mentioned he wasn’t fit to step [sic] foot anywhere near our ground.’
The Ipswich fan also said he referenced Keane’s departure from the Ireland camp in the 2002 World Cup.
‘I hate the bloke and that’s been boiling up since he got sacked all those years ago,’ he added, for good measure, although he later claimed to Mail Sport that he ‘never got personal’ and had only said: ‘You’re a better pundit than you were a manager.’
Ricky Gervais was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet
