Keane banned for five games

Keane leaves the hearing after learning his fate

Roy Keane has been given a five-match ban and a record £150,000 fine after being found guilty on two charges of bringing the game into disrepute at a Football Association hearing.

The five-match ban will start on 4 November, though Keane does have a right of appeal as long as it is lodged within 14 days.

The disrepute charges related to a claim in Keane's autobiography that he deliberately set out to hurt Manchester City midfielder Alf Inge Haaland in a game in April 2001.

We will be reviewing the question of appeal over the next few days

Maurice Watkins
Roy Keane's solicitor

Keane's solicitor Maurice Watkins said they would consider an appeal after the hearing at Bolton's Reebok Stadium.

"Clearly after the arguments that have been put forward in Roy's defence we are disappointed with the verdict.

"After such a long day, now is not the time to make quick decisions so we will be reviewing the question of appeal over the next few days."

Have your say: Is the punishment just?

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson was also present, as well the man who wrote Keane's book, Eamonn Dunphy.

  Keane guilty of:

Deliberately setting out to injure Alf-Inge Haaland

Publishing an account of the incident to gain financial reward

The first charge centred on the tackle which saw Keane sent off, and the element of revenge after he had previously suffered a serious injury in a clash with Haaland.

The second charge related to the controversial Irishman publishing his account to gain financial reward.

Photo gallery: Keane's tackle on Haaland

A three-man panel, chaired by FA disciplinary committee chief Barry Bright, heard Keane being cross-examined by the FA's lawyer John Sturman QC.

They deliberated for six hours before handing down the punishment.

The fine is worth about two weeks' wages but it is the ban that will worry Mancheter United the most.

The punishment will start three weeks from now, which is effectively the date manager Sir Alex said Keane would return from his hip operation.

He will miss Manchester United's domestic games against Leicester in the Worthington Cup, and the Premiership matches against Manchester City, West Ham, Newcastle and Liverpool.

But he will be available for United's remaining Champions League group games for the duration of his ban.

Keane should return to domestic action for United's home Premiership game with Arsenal on 7 December.

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