![FIFA president Blatter said of dangerous tackling: "It is a crime [on the pitch] and should be treated as such."](https://images.mlssoccer.com/image/private/t_editorial_landscape_12_desktop_3x/f_auto/prd-league/aejuecz60cugg0xpledh.jpg)
Sunderland manager Roy Keane admits he would have gone to prison had Sepp Blatter's demand for some tackles to be made a criminal offence come into force while he was a player.
FIFA president Blatter wants those who deliberately make dangerous challenges to face legal action.
Keane was one of the finest midfield tacklers of his generation but there were occasions when the former Manchester United captain went over the top.
Most infamous was a knee-high lunge on Alf Inge Haaland during the Manchester derby at Old Trafford in 2001, which Keane later revealed in his autobiography was a pre-meditated revenge attack for a spat that began four years earlier.
Speaking ahead of his side's Barclays Premier League game against Everton on Sunday, Keane said: "I have to be careful with this subject. I would have been doing a bit of 'porridge' myself!
"People in the media have been saying some of the tackles have been horrendous.
"I've heard before that if it happened in the street then you might be charged with assault.
"I know there's been one or two court cases over the years. You're opening a can of worms there - I think you'd have to be very careful."
One of Keane's players was on the receiving end of a horrible challenge back in December when Aston Villa's Craig Gardner escaped unpunished despite planting his studs into the chest of Dwight Yorke.
But Keane said: "As bad as that tackle was on Yorkie that day, Yorkie was okay.
"Luckily, Yorkie's not nasty enough to seek revenge I suppose.
"It's very hard to gauge what's going on in the game because the game is that fast now.
"It's trying to gauge what players mean and what's accidental."
Keane will expect his players to be hard but fair when high-flying Everton travel to the Stadium of Light this weekend.
They will certainly need to be more on their toes than during November's reverse fixture, when the Toffees inflicted Keane's heaviest defeat since he took charge.
"No doubt a lot of people will remember that game," said the Irishman of the 7-1 Goodison Park drubbing.
"But I tend to focus more on the reaction of the players that week on the training pitch, and the following weekend we managed to get a win.
"So that gives me great hope for the football club in terms of the type of characters we've got."
He added: "It's a tough game against Everton. We got a good hiding there earlier in the season but it's a game we're looking forward to.
"We've got one or two lads coming back looking sharp and looking fitter and hopefully it won't be the same scoreline on Sunday."
Sunderland, who are two points above the relegation zone, will be looking to make it five straight home victories in the league this weekend.
Their cause should be boosted by facing a Toffees side who were in Florence for a UEFA Cup tie yesterday but Keane is not so sure.
He said: "I think for a big club and a top club like Everton, hoping to get in the Champions League next year, you have to deal with travelling away in Europe.
"That's why you have the big squads. If you think David's going to start with the team that started last night, I'm sure you'd be mistaken.
"He'll look to freshen it up and he's got good strength in depth there.
"I think the modern player has to adapt coming back from Europe to play in a tough game.
"That's what good teams and good players do so I wouldn't expect too much tiredness on Sunday."
Keane will welcome back defender Danny Collins from suspension, while Liam Miller could return after his high-profile transfer-listing for poor time-keeping.
