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Roy Keane tells Republic of Ireland to get over it
Friday, 20 November 2009
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Roy Keane has lambasted the Republic of Ireland's attempts to get their controversial World Cup play-off match against France replayed.
Roy Keane had little sympathy for the Football Association of Ireland's campaign to have their controversial World Cup play-off against France replayed and said: "What goes around comes around."
The Ipswich manager's relationship with the FAI broke down following his walk-out from the Republic of Ireland training camp prior to the 2002 World Cup.
And he dismissed their calls for "the honesty and integrity" of the sport to be protected in the wake of Thierry Henry's handball which led to France's winner in Paris on Wednesday night.
He told a press conference broadcast by Sky Sports News: "I think the supporters deserve better, the manager (Giovanni Trapattoni) deserves better and probably most of the players deserve better, but I'm not sure the FAI deserve better.
"What goes around comes around."
Keane pointed out that controversial decisions also went Ireland's way in the qualifying campaign, not least a harsh penalty award against Georgia which helped them to claim a 2-1 qualifying win in February.
He added: "Ireland had their chances in the two games (against France), and they never took them. But it's the usual FAI reaction - 'we've been robbed, the honesty of the game...'
"There was one match against Georgia where Ireland got a penalty and it was one of the worst decisions I've ever seen which changed the whole course of the game.
"I don't remember the FAI after the game saying we should give them a replay."
Talking specifically about France's winner, Keane laid the blame on Ireland's defence rather than Henry, who handled the ball before crossing for William Gallas to head in.
"I'd focus on why they didn't clear it," he said.
"I'd be more annoyed with my defenders and my goalkeeper than Thierry Henry. How can you let the ball bounce in your six-yard box? How can you let Thierry Henry get goal-side of you?
"If the ball goes into the six-yard box, where the hell is my goalkeeper?"
Keane's antipathy towards the FAI stems back to the Pacific island of Saipan seven years ago when he left the team's pre-World Cup training camp, complaining that the facilities were sub-standard.
"People seem to forget what was going on in that World Cup, and that man (FAI chief executive John Delaney) is on about honesty. I was one of the players and he didn't have the courtesy to ring me," he said.
"I'd been involved with Ireland since I was 15 years of age and that man didn't have the decency to make a phone call. He could have phoned me, of course he could have."
Ferguson joins the debate
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Re-play Ireland vs Georgia first, re-count points ! If Ireland still qualifies for the play offs, then re-play France vs Ireland
Replay France vs Germany, 1982. France deserved the final !
Replay England Germany 1966, England didn't deserve the win ...
England Argentina 1986; send Maradonna off...
And Italy Ukraine 2006....
Oups; I forgot dopping, bribery...
What else?
Stop watching football on TV !!!!!!!
Posted by David, Paris | 23.11.09, 19:31 GMT
well-i always thought soccer is a silly game and this issue proves it - too few goals so a single bad referee decision can lead to the game being lost or won unfairly. Now if FIFA could take a lead from the GAA gaelic football or the Aussie rules games, where scores a plenty are common in each game, then the odd bad referee decision wouldn't matter. And there would be a lot more cheering at each end during each game as well - so both sets of fans would be happier irrespective of the outcome.
Posted by jonno | 23.11.09, 16:12 GMT
Technology will spoil the game. ROI must stop whinning. Lots of teams suffer from incorrect decisions. ROI can not have special rules for them, and them alone. To accuse FIFA of collusion is very bigoted & narrow-minded. ROI should be officially sanctioned for their false comments. Vive la France, Vive Thierry Henry, and viva Norn Iron
Posted by David | 22.11.09, 10:37 GMT
Get over it....
Posted by mic | 21.11.09, 06:48 GMT
so the republic should get over it ,,thats a good one coming from keane ,,the french match was only a few days ago ,,,he is still bitter with the fai for the last 7 years over the world cup in 2002 ,,,,he walked out on his country ,,,he should try and get ipswich off the bottom of the table ,,,,,i would love to say exactly what i think of keane but it would not be printed
Posted by hg | 21.11.09, 01:47 GMT
No, Ireland should not 'just get over it'! regarding this farce that the French (some) call winning. This was an unfair judgement call by all concerned with the outcome of this game. The world is watching - and our hearts go out to the men in green who played a good and honourable game - come on France - show us what you are made of - have a replay!
Elizabeth, Monroeville, PA USA
Posted by Elizabeth (Christie) Lovic | 21.11.09, 00:10 GMT
Finally someone speaking sense and I didn't think I would ever say that about Roy Keane. It was a terrible decision by the linesman but that's football - you win some and you lose some but you gotta take your chances when you are on top! All this nonsense about replays is just sad and desperate. As for Henry - apart from the press and the 'victims' no-one will care come South Africa! Unlucky but move on.
Posted by Steam | 20.11.09, 20:37 GMT
Things happen so quick on the football pitch it's understandable and very frustrating for players and fans alike when TV evidence highlights a bad or missed call by the officals. The fact that the officals don't have access to video replays at the time leaves it open to all kinds of conspiracy theories. The hand of God strikes again....
Posted by Jim Donald | 20.11.09, 17:41 GMT
Does anybody really pay much attention to Keane. Regrettably he ploughs his own lonely furrow.
Beyond any doubt the French are going through on a foul.
Posted by coliln | 20.11.09, 16:04 GMT
Obviously keane hasn't "got over it"! Fifa have waffled on for years about fair play yet the are keeping quite about this one. Thay should set a marker and ban henry from the world cup finals for bringing the game into disrepute.
Posted by allaboutpolitics | 20.11.09, 15:49 GMT
True words spoken by Roy Keane, if we'd got that goal it would have been " the luck of the Irish" but we got the luck, and lots of it during the whole campaign. Being honest we where lucky to get to play offs. There's no one to blame but ourselves!
Posted by A Realist! | 20.11.09, 15:46 GMT
Yeah, and Roy Keane's record as a manager is so fantastic, isn't it? I'd do this, I'd do that...is that right, Roy? What happened at Sunderland then Roy, eh? Keane isn't fit to clean Trappatoni's shoes.
Posted by joanna | 20.11.09, 15:38 GMT
I suppose we got over you walking out on your team in Japan didn't we Roy?
How's your managerial career going by the way?
Posted by Ulysses32 | 20.11.09, 15:20 GMT
You miss the point Keane you ********
The French cheated nothing to do with the texas tea that has come out of your mouth.
Ireland should fight for what is right.
Posted by Big Tas | 20.11.09, 13:42 GMT
Well said by the real 'Keano'
Posted by Strucker | 20.11.09, 13:34 GMT
I used to think Roy Keane didn't possess brain cells but this has left me pleasantly surprised. He's spot on - get over it. you've had your sympathy now life goes on.
Posted by dennis | 20.11.09, 12:55 GMT