Keane cleared of assault charges

Manchester United soccer captain Roy Keane was cleared on Tuesday of assaulting a 16-year-old boy who taunted him.

Keane, 33, was also cleared at Trafford Magistrates Court of causing criminal damage and using threatening behaviour.

The charges related to an altercation near the footballer's million pound home in the upscale Manchester suburb of Hale last September.

In court, Keane said that while he was annoyed after the youth had insulted him and made a hand gesture, he did not swing a punch at the teenager.

Keane, who has a reputation for a fiery temper on the pitch, said he had gone up to the youth to tell him to watch his language, but had not engaged in any physical contact.

Keane left the court without comment, but his lawyer read a statement to reporters:

"Roy Keane has always maintained his innocence. He has been vindicated today and he is very relieved justice has been done."

The combative Irish midfielder has been no stranger to controversy during his footballing career. He famously fell out with Ireland's straight-talking coach Mick McCarthy during the 2002 World Cup before dramatically quitting the squad in mid-competition.

His action divided Irish fans who widely regarded Keane as the only world class player in the team.

Pundits agree Keane has some extraordinary footballing skills but that his weakness is a tendency to lose his cool.

Spotted by Nottingham Forest as a raw 18-year-old playing for Cobh Ramblers in Ireland, Keane was brought to England in 1990 where he blossomed under Forest manager Brian Clough, who took a tough line with him.

When Keane scored the winning goal in an FA Cup quarter-final against Norwich and performed a celebratory somersault, Clough told him to "go and join the circus" if he wanted to carry on like that.