Roy sent home after slanging match

13 April 2012

MICK McCARTHY has kicked Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane out of the World Cup finals.

The Ireland manager was subjected to a tirade of abuse from Keane at a "clear the air" meeting at the team's hotel in Saipan, before telling the Manchester United star to pack his bags.

Keane was asked to explain comments attributed to him in an explosive newspaper interview published this morning when McCarthy called a team meeting at

7.30pm local time here.

Instead of appeasing his manager and team-mates, however, the Ireland captain launched a vicious and very personal attack on McCarthy in front of his players.

That was the final straw for the former Millwall manager. He told Keane to leave the squad immediately, less than 48 hours after the player had reversed his earlier decision to quit international football.

McCarthy said: "The abuse was personal, vicious and unprecedented. I listened to an intolerable level of abuse in that room tonight and I had no choice but to act.

"I am sorry to lose him as a player but not sorry to see the back of him as a squad member."

McCarthy's action was backed by senior players Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton and by Football Association of Ireland president Milo Corcoran at the press conference to announce Keane's exit.

"The rest of the players support Mick in all of this. It is a sad day for Roy and for Irish football but I have never experienced anything like what went on tonight," said Staunton. "What goes on in football should be kept in football. Roy crossed the divide in that newspaper article and then again at the meeting tonight and that cannot be tolerated. We are 100 per cent behind Mick on this one."

McCarthy may now be forced to use only 22 players for the finals. Celtic's Colin Healy was placed on standby when Keane originally threatened to quit on Tuesday but he has missed the FIFA deadline for World Cup registration.

"I was fully aware of the repercussions," added McCarthy.

"I called the meeting to clear the air and find out exactly what he was complaining about in the newspaper article which we have all read today.

"Instead of explaining himself he decided to level abuse in my direction and in front of the other members of the squad. That was simply intolerable-as far as I am concerned. I had to take action and I had to send the player home. I had no choice.

"It is sad that we are losing Roy Keane the player but I have 22 very happy players in this squad and one who has been unhappy all week.

"There has been an undercurrent here all week. We came to Saipan for some rest and relaxation ahead of the World Cup and instead I have found myself answering questions about comments from Roy all week.

"It is sad but I have no alternative when Roy behaved as he did tonight. You will have to ask him why he did it. I do not know." Quinn added: "I have known Roy for a long time, but this is astonishing."

The FAI, meanwhile, is adamant McCarthy made the right decision in sending Keane home.

FAI treasurer John Delaney said: "We view the events with great regret but the manager is fully supported by the association.

"The well-being of the squad is our interest and now we must put this unfortunate affair behind us and get on with the job as best we can."

Delaney also disputed Keane's claims that their training facilities were not up to standard. "We believe we provided the best," he said.

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