Ferguson defends Keane's comments

Sir Alex Ferguson was last night in the familiar position of defending Roy Keane – although this time it was for what Keane has written as much as for what he has done.

In his autobiography, published later this month but already serialised, Keane admits trying to injure Alf Inge Haaland of Manchester City. The Football Association has said it will decide whether to take action once it has seen the comments in context, but Ferguson, who has read the book, said: "I don't think there is anything to worry about. It's an honest book.

"I don't believe there is a case to answer. I think there has been a going-and-toing between those players over the years, particularly from Haaland. He's had plenty to say. Every time we played them he made comments about Roy in the papers but we didn't complain."

He said that although United players did not need permission to write books, the club's lawyers had read it and "didn't think there was a problem".

The confrontation referred to was in April 2001 when Keane was dismissed for an assault which he writes was in revenge for Haaland's reaction after Keane was injured when attempting to kick the Norwegian, then a Leeds United player, in a match in September 1997.

Haaland has not completed a match since but it is his left knee, not the leg which Keane kicked, which has been the problem. Four days after, he started but did not finish a match for Norway. He spoke to City yesterday about possible legal action.