I stepped in when Piers Morgan was about to publish defence from my parents after infamous Ruud van Nistelrooy clash
Martin Keown has revealed he once had to stop his mum's quotes on his rivalry with Ruud van Nistelrooy from being printed in the papers.
The former Arsenal star, who won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the Gunners, constantly feuded with Manchester United's Dutch striker.
Their feud peaked at Old Trafford in 2003 when Keown gave away a penalty in stoppage time for bringing down Van Nistelrooy, who proceeded to smash his spot-kick against the bar.
It led to unsavoury scenes on the pitch following his miss, with Keown jumping on the player in delight, with Gunners players then pushing him around.
Arsenal's squad were already unhappy with Van Nistelrooy after they felt his dramatic reaction from a Patrick Vieira kick-out led to his sending off.
It was one of a number of incidents between Keown and Van Nistelrooy, with the Dutchman stamping on the defender in 2002.
And in a Highbury clash the following year, another stamp from Van Nistelrooy was aimed towards Keown, who replied by swinging his arm into him.
Fast forward to today, and a current United player, Harry Maguire, has been the subject of abuse following his decline in form and game time.
In response, his mum released a statement on social media, condemning the heavy criticism.
But Keown insists Maguire isn't the only player to have had family stand up for them in public, with his mum doing just that in the early 2000s when his feud with Van Nistlerooy was at its most tense.
«Occasionally a parent, a family member, a loved one, might say something in the media,» he told talkSPORT's White and Jordan show.
«You have to accept it. You don't plan for that. It's just somebody else who's looking out for their son so I understand that as well.»
Going on to reveal
Read on talksport.com
