'Roy Keane can't be taken seriously when he's got a beard like Saddam Hussein', says Alf-Inge Haaland

Keane's infamous tackle on Haaland has been brought up again following the release of a new book from the former Manchester United captain

Roy Keane and Saddam Hussein (GETTY IMAGES)

Alf-Inge Haaland, the victim of a dreadful challenge by Roy Keane in 2001, has compared the former Manchester United captain's beard to that of Saddam Hussein.

Haaland made the comment on Twitter in reaction to extracts from Keane's latest autobiography, The Second Half.

The book was accidentally put on sale by a Tesco store yesterday and within Keane says of the tackle: "There are things I regret in my life and he (Haaland) is not one of them."

In his first book, Keane's words were construed as meaning his tackle on the Manchester City defender was pre-meditated. The FA were among those who thought so and banned him for five matches and issued a fine of £150,000.

The moments after Keane's horror challenge on Alf-Ingie Haaland (GETTY IMAGES)

After the quotes emerged on Monday, Egil Ostenstad contacted his fellow ex-Norway international Haaland on Twitter, writing: "Alfie. R Keane is at it again. Could we have a Twitter response mate?"

Haaland replied by writing "can't take a man seriously when he's got a beard like...", with the message being accompanied by a picture of former Iraq dictator Hussein. The post was subsequently deleted.

The tweet, which has since been deleted

Keane, who is now working as assistant at both Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland, has been allowing his greying beard to grow considerably long in recent weeks.