Keane kicked off Ireland squad
Associated Press
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands -- Manchester United captain Roy Keane was dismissed from Ireland's World Cup team Thursday after an argument with a coach.
Ireland coach Mick McCarthy said the 30-year-old midfielder was a "disruptive influence,'' would be going home and would not take part in the World Cup.
"I have made the right decision not only for the benefit of me but for the squad,'' McCarthy said. "We will move on and be all right because we are collectively strong.
"We all know his ability but, when he makes a public and open show of his opinions and makes such public criticism, everybody starts talking about it.''
Keane, Ireland's best player, had an argument during practice with coach Packie Bonner, threatened to leave the team on Wednesday and also announced his retirement from international soccer.
Keane had complained about the training facilities, but said that was just the "tip of the iceberg.''
"I've come over here to do well and I want people around me to want to do well,'' Keane said. "If I feel we're not all wanting the same things, there's no point. It's been going on a while.
"I do love the 90 minutes, it's the rest. "I travel a lot, I have four kids. I miss them. Everyone is different. All I can do is look after me and my family.''
McCarthy met with his Irish team on Thursday to deal with the Keane situation.
"I cannot and will not tolerate being spoken to with that level of abuse being thrown at me so I sent him home,'' McCarthy said. "I am sad to lose him. As a player his is absolutely brilliant. He is one of the best in the world.''
Milo Corcoran, president of the Football Association of Ireland, said: "We're a 23 man team and the fact that one man is gone is not the whole story.
"This has been going on for a long time and now that it's resolved there will be better team spirit for the side.''
Ireland, playing in Group E with three-time champion Germany, Saudi Arabia and Olympic champion Cameroon, opens on June 1.
Earlier this week Keane had threatened to fly home before the tournament starts on May 31. In one interview he said that to log all his complaints "I'd need my own newspaper" and claimed the team's treatment by Irish officials was a joke.
A FIFA spokesman said a player could be replaced in a squad only because of a serious injury. "This appears not to be the case with Roy Keane," he told Sky Sports television.
Information from Reuters was used in this report
Associated Press
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands -- Manchester United captain Roy Keane was dismissed from Ireland's World Cup team Thursday after an argument with a coach.
Ireland coach Mick McCarthy said the 30-year-old midfielder was a "disruptive influence,'' would be going home and would not take part in the World Cup.
"I have made the right decision not only for the benefit of me but for the squad,'' McCarthy said. "We will move on and be all right because we are collectively strong.
"We all know his ability but, when he makes a public and open show of his opinions and makes such public criticism, everybody starts talking about it.''
Keane, Ireland's best player, had an argument during practice with coach Packie Bonner, threatened to leave the team on Wednesday and also announced his retirement from international soccer.
Keane had complained about the training facilities, but said that was just the "tip of the iceberg.''
"I've come over here to do well and I want people around me to want to do well,'' Keane said. "If I feel we're not all wanting the same things, there's no point. It's been going on a while.
"I do love the 90 minutes, it's the rest. "I travel a lot, I have four kids. I miss them. Everyone is different. All I can do is look after me and my family.''
McCarthy met with his Irish team on Thursday to deal with the Keane situation.
"I cannot and will not tolerate being spoken to with that level of abuse being thrown at me so I sent him home,'' McCarthy said. "I am sad to lose him. As a player his is absolutely brilliant. He is one of the best in the world.''
Milo Corcoran, president of the Football Association of Ireland, said: "We're a 23 man team and the fact that one man is gone is not the whole story.
"This has been going on for a long time and now that it's resolved there will be better team spirit for the side.''
Ireland, playing in Group E with three-time champion Germany, Saudi Arabia and Olympic champion Cameroon, opens on June 1.
Earlier this week Keane had threatened to fly home before the tournament starts on May 31. In one interview he said that to log all his complaints "I'd need my own newspaper" and claimed the team's treatment by Irish officials was a joke.
A FIFA spokesman said a player could be replaced in a squad only because of a serious injury. "This appears not to be the case with Roy Keane," he told Sky Sports television.
Information from Reuters was used in this report
