Roy Keane brands Ward-Prowse ‘a cheat’ for penalty spot antics vs Iceland

James Ward-Prowse appeared to rough up the penalty spot just seconds before Iceland’s Birkir Bjarnason fired his effort from 12 yards over the bar in England’s Nations League win on Saturday.

And that saw Roy Keane hit out at the Southampton man for “cheating” while on punditry duty for ITV.

In a dramatic period of additional time in the Nations League clash, England took the lead thanks to Raheem Sterling’s spot kick after Kyle Walker’s sending off in the 70th minute.

But the hosts were presented with the opportunity to hit back immediately as Joe Gomez was penalised for a foul in the area on Holmbert Fridjonsson straight after the restart.

And as the referee spoke with Sterling, Bjarnason and Three Lions goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, television footage appears to show Ward-Prowse stamping on the penalty spot with his studs.

Moments later, ex-Aston Villa midfielder Bjarnason hit his effort over the woodwork to hand England victory after a second half which saw two red cards and two penalties given.

England boss Gareth Southgate was quizzed about the incident after the match but said: “I haven’t seen it, so I couldn’t comment.”

Meanwhile, ITV pundits Ian Wright and Roy Keane disagreed when discussing Ward-Prowse’s actions.

Were Ward-Prowse’s actions cheating or purely gamesmanship? Have your say here.

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“I don’t mind that from an England player, I like that devilment about him,” said former Gunners and England striker Wright.

“If that happens in a major competition and England get something from it, I’m not going to complain.”

But ex-Manchester United and Ireland midfielder Keane branded hit back, saying: “It’s cheating, I don’t like to see that.”

Southgate preferred to focus on England’s mistakes in the build-up to the penalty rather than the drama surrounding the spot kick itself, saying England “got out of jail” on the night.

He added: “Kyle has held his hands up in the dressing room. He realises as an experienced player those sorts of challenges in these games, and while on a yellow card, invite the opportunity for the ref to make decisions.

“And it was right. We have talked over the years about discipline. In tournaments, the number of times we have gone out with ten men has proved critical. It’s not something we want to see again.”

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