Erling Haaland's Father Clashes Again with Roy Keane After England-Norway World Cup Match

Following England's 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, a longstanding feud reignited off the pitch between Erling Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland, and Manchester United legend Roy Keane. Alf-Inge Haaland criticized the refereeing on his X account, sarcastically praising Jude Bellingham and the referee, French official Clément Turpin, while claiming Norway was "robbed." The controversy centered on a disallowed Norwegian goal after VAR review, which ruled that Erling Haaland fouled England's Elliott Anderson during the play.

Roy Keane responded during the "Stick to Football" program with a personal jab, suggesting Alf-Inge's judgment was impaired by alcohol, saying, "Maybe the alcohol affected his judgment because it looks like he always drinks during games." This exchange revived their bitter rivalry dating back to 1997, when Keane suffered a cruciate ligament injury attempting to tackle Alf-Inge Haaland. Their animosity peaked in 2001 when Keane was sent off for a deliberate high-knee tackle on Haaland, a move he later admitted was intentional revenge.

Despite years since their playing days, tensions remain high. After Keane's viral comments, Alf-Inge Haaland called him "once an idiot, always an idiot" before deleting the post. Keane clarified he did not believe the referee favored England, stating he tries to be fair even when usually critical of the English team. He acknowledged some decisions were debatable but denied any bias against Norway.

No official responses from the Norway team have been reported yet. The incident highlights the enduring personal conflicts that can overshadow major international football events.