Comedian Ricky Gervais has ridiculed 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 abused him, telling 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, received final instructions from producers to return after an ad break before the Irishman headed out to confront a particular fan, who had stayed behind to watch him to stimulate.
In a video filmed exclusively by Mail Sport, the 53-year-old, who managed Ipswich between 2009 and 2011, can be seen putting down his microphone, putting his hands in his pockets and walking towards the fan, just in front of a heated back . -and-again followed.
A subsequent video shared on social media after the match showed Keane continuously telling the fan to ‘wait and discuss it in the car park’ as insults were hurled in his direction.
Now Gervais has taken the chance to mock the ex-Irish skipper for his behavior with a hilarious comment, in response to an announcement that he would be appearing on Stick to footballbrought to you by Sky betin which Keane is an expert.
Ricky Gervais has poked fun at Roy Keane after the Irishman confronted a supporter in Ipswich
Keane worked for Sky Sports on Sunday evening during Ruben Amorim’s first match in charge
Gervais referred to the row after appearing on the Stick to Football podcast with Keane
He posted on X: “I’m just glad Roy didn’t want to talk to me in the parking lot.”
The After Life star’s appearance on the podcast was a surprise as the show usually hosts former footballers and fellow pundits, but Gervais revealed in the episode how he got back into the sport.
‘Yes, I love it [football] now,” he said. ‘I’ve been working on it for about thirty years. I wasn’t anti-football, I played at school, and I actually played football until I was 30.
‘I probably stopped between the ages of thirty and sixty [playing] – I didn’t have a team. I watched England twice a year when they played. I was aware of everything, but I got back into it in COVID during the lockdown when they were playing those games without an audience.”
The Office creator added: “I got so into it and 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 very well made documentary, and then I saw the struggle of the players, the finances, the manager.
‘Then I looked at the Manchester City one, the Leeds one, the [Mikel] Arteta one, and I was hooked. Now I’m fascinated by it, I watch every match that’s on TV.’
This was confirmed this week Sky Sports will not increase security for its experts after this Roy Keane‘s altercation.
Sky conducts a risk assessment before every match and for those deemed high risk, security staff escort experts through public areas. When it comes to abuse from the stands, there is little they can do and experts in certain areas are known to expect a torrid time.
The After Life star joked about the incident on social media on Wednesday evening
Keane snapped back at an Ipswich fan who abused him during an advert break at Portman Road
Keane has had a tense relationship with many Ipswich fans following 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 addressed by the broadcaster after the incident in Suffolk, with versions of events from the rest of their line-up, including Redknapp, Kelly Cates and Izzy Christiansen.
Sky declined to comment further on those conversations, although it is clear they sympathize with the position he found himself in.
Witnesses say Keane was the target of constant abuse from a group of home fans who ‘consistently crossed the line’.
One fan, Neil Finbow, has posted on social media about his “new claim to fame,” bragging that he was “offered up in the parking lot by Roy Keane after a few choice words.”
When asked what sparked the confrontation, Finbow proudly stated that he was criticizing Keane over his failure at Ipswich and other issues such as his infamous tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland.
“I reminded him that he set us up [Ipswich] five years ago and ruined our football club,” Finbow said. ‘He also said he wasn’t fit to go out [sic] foot somewhere near our ground.”
The Ipswich fan also said he was referring to Keane’s departure from the Ireland camp during the 2002 World Cup.
“I hate that guy and it’s been boiling ever since he was 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 expert than you are as a manager.”
Ricky Gervais spoke at the Stick to football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet