By Cian Duffy
May 23 2002

Former Republic of Ireland captain, Roy Keane, is on his way back to Dublin today after being dropped by Mick McCarthy. According... Former Republic of Ireland captain, Roy Keane, is on his way back to Dublin today after being dropped by Mick McCarthy. According to the ‘Evening Herald’, McCarthy dropped Keane from the squad due to ‘inappropriate’ comments. The Football Association of Ireland, the sports governing body in the Republic backed McCarthy’s decision.

Keane had been involved in a fight with goalkeeping coach and former Ireland and Celtic goalkeeping star, Packie Bonner, over the positions in a 5-a-side match. HE dropped himself from the squad, and Colin Healy was called up. Keane then re-selected himself to the squad, and was on the final squad submitted to FIFA by fax, with five minutes to spare.

He also slammed the facilities provided both by the State to the FAI, and by the FAI for players. He may not realise that Lansdowne Road is close to 110 years old, and hence is difficult to improve, and that the State is trying to build an 85,000-seater stadium at Abbotstown, N. County Dublin. The FAI and telecom provider company Eircom had planned a large and capable stadium to be built at City West Business Campus, SW. County Dublin, only to have the plan mysteriously fall through.

This leaves the republic with a 22-man squad, as Colin Healy was not allowed onto the final squad. Unless McCarthy can prove to FIFA that one of the reasons for Keane’s dismissal was due to his knee injury, Healy will not be allowed compete for the Republic.

Former Ireland player, and indeed teammate of McCarthy during Italia ’90, Paul McGrath, said he thought McCarthy’s treatment of Keane was disgraceful. Other former players have blasted the public reaction to Keane’s dismissal, which is mainly one of ‘he deserved it’.

Keane has announced his retirement from International soccer, and even if he recants this statement, is unlikely to ever don the Green, White or Navy for Ireland again.

It is also suggested that Keane will loose most of his appeal to advertisers. The Evening Herald suggested a sum of €25,000 lost buy him for just this competition, and a 25% reduction in future sums.

Veteran Irish player and current record caps holder, 33 year old Steven Staunton has been declared captain, at least for the duration for the tournament. He may be the skipper until the end of his playing career. Staunton will become the first Irish caps centenarian if he plays just two more games for the Republic