john68 wrote:Jamie,
Whatever the final outcome of the injury, some time later in his 1st autobiography Keane bragged about what he had done and and stated clearly it was a deliberate act to injure Alfie.and that he had waited 2 years for the opportunity to do it.
When it was challenged legally,Keane denied he had ever said that and Eamon Dunphy (his ghost writer) said that he himself had added that bit off his own bat.
Both Alfie and City were waiting on the outcome in order to seek compensation from Keane.
Alf-Inge Haaland's career came to a heartbreaking end last night after the injured Norwegian midfielder accepted retirement and was told by Manchester City that he would have to fight his legal case alone against Roy Keane.
The City chairman David Bernstein described the decision to release Haaland as "terribly sad" as the Maine Road club ended five months of speculation that they would embark on a courtroom battle with Manchester United over Keane's tackle on their player in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in April 2001.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who has barely played in two years, will have to weigh the cost of pursuing an individual claim against Keane, who wrote in his controversial autobiography that he had deliberately set out to injure his opponent.
However, City's legal advisers told them that their case had been weakened by the fact that Haaland's career-ending injury was in his left knee, whereas it was the right knee with which Keane made contact.
A spokesman for City said: "The necessary medical and consequential legal advice has been received and carefully reviewed. The conclusion is that it would be difficult for Manchester City to take action on medical grounds."Haaland's advisers have already explored the possibility of a private action and were told that the player would have a strong individual case to claim lost earnings as well as any medical fees that have been accumulated during the course of his treatment. Haaland could even press assault charges against Keane.
However, after making the announcement that they were taking legal advice in August, City's climbdown will appear to many supporters as a public relations mistake that has played into the hands of their wealthier, more successful neighbours.
Bernstein said: "We have taken a very difficult decision to give Alfie his proper notice under his contract to terminate arrangements with him. That has not been done easily. It's very difficult for Alfie and very difficult for us, but it is my responsibility to get a proper balance on these things and protect the club's interests.
"The whole thing has been incredibly sad. It was sad when it first happened. Alfie worked very, very hard, to get himself fit over such a long period."
"I saw Alfie today and discussed this with him and it was not an easy conversation. Believe me, my colleagues and I have agonised over this decision, but I believe we have allowed sufficient time to pass.
"It is an action which in a sense we have been forced to take."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/239618 ... mself.html
