McCarthy accused by bitter Keane

13 April 2012

Roy Keane today sensationally accused Mick McCarthy of goading him into the bust-up that saw him sent home from the World Cup.

The Republic of Ireland star insists he is still " bitter and twisted" over the row with McCarthy that led to the most dramatic story of the tournament.

Keane was kicked off the the Far East trip when a row over inadequate training facilities escalated into a personal feud with the Republic's manager.

After initially quitting the camp in anger, he was persuaded to stay by the manager and to attend a clear-the-air meeting.

"It was a set-up. Humiliation in front of the whole party was the result he was seeking," Keane told The Times, who are serialising his autobiography The Game.

"I know that time is a great healer and all that but it is still very raw to me. It still hurts me and I still feel bitter. Bitter and twisted towards these people. People go round the houses talking about my complaints over the training pitches and so on, which were valid.

"But I would have played in the World Cup despite all that if McCarthy hadn't accused me of faking injuries. It is as simple as that. They dangled a carrot for me and I had a good nibble.

"I saw him on Football Focus saying 'I don't appreciate being called an effing w and an effing c'. But if you say I am faking injury and letting my team-mates down, then dead right.

"To me, that is the worst insult you can have. Why hasn't anyone asked him why he said what he did and why he wanted me out?"

Keane revealed the exact outburst that occurred in front of the entire Republic squad at the meeting that led to his exile.

He said to McCarthy: "You're a f****** w*****. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager and I don't rate you as a person. You're a f****** w***** and you can stick your World Cup up your a***. I've no respect for you."

Keane couldn't resist another jibe at McCarthy by claiming that he was partly to blame for the Republic'sWorld Cup exit.

Many thought the Irish did well to qualify from the group stages before going down to Spain on penalties in the second round.

However, Keane believes that game was there for the taking.

"The World Cup? They did OK but that's what they expected because the manager drums that into the team," he added.

"We've done well to qualify, all that nonsense. That's the problem. That sums up the mentality.

"Spain had 10 men for half an hour. The game was there for the taking. I think a more astute manager would have won the game. Some people have higher standards than others."

As for his own international future, Keane reiterates the fact that he would love to play for Ireland again but only after McCarthy has left.

"Mick has two years left on his contract and obviously I will never play for him again," said Keane.

"In two years, if some chairman is daft enough to give him a job and someone else comes in, I will look at it again.

"I would not like to finish my international career on that note. Some people seem to think it doesn't bother me. Of course it bothers me to have missed the World Cup."

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