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| May 26, 2002 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 13,1423 |
Disgraced Keane arrives in Britain to media assault
LONDON, May 25: Disgraced Ireland captain Roy Keane arrived back in Britain Saturday to a media assault after being kicked out of the national squad for criticising their World Cup preparations.
The Manchester United midfielder touched down at London’s Heathrow airport early Saturday while his national teammates won their final warm-up match before Saturday’s opener against Cameroon in Niigata, japan.
Wearing a white sports T-shirt, blue jeans and white trainers and clutching a black holdall, the 30-year-old Keane looked refreshed despite the long flight from the Far East.
He smiled at waiting camera crews and photographers but stepped immediately into a waiting car to transfer him to a flight to Manchester.
Keane was later seen leaving his Cheshire house to walk his dog, but he refused to answer questions from journalists who were following his every move.
Ireland manager Mick McCarthy sent his captain home after the player launched an attack on the team’s preparations for the tournament, which starts next week.
McCarthy claimed Keane’s public criticisms of training facilities on the island of Saipan and other aspects of the trip had made him a disruptive influence in the squad.
The Republic squad travelled to Izumo in Japan on Friday while Keane travelled home alone.
Before boarding the flight to Tokyo, Keane appeared to be in upbeat mood.
“I feel great and have a clear conscience,” said Keane.
“I am happy to be going home to see my family - it’s good to be going home.
“I have no regrets. There are more important things to worry about.”
Stunned Irish fans are struggling to come to terms with the loss of their star player on the eve of the World Cup with Prime Minister Bertie Ahern offering to intervene in the dispute.
Keane’s former teammates meanwhile hit back to defeat J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1, but the problems mounted for Mick McCarthy’s side with two midfield players injured.
Jason McAteer’s injury appeared to be the most serious as he was carried off on a stretcher following a 35th minute sliding tackle from a Hiroshima defender as he prepared to cross from the right.
There were fears that the Sunderland player could have damaged medial ligaments in his left knee and he was sent for a scan to determine the extent of the damage.
Kevin Kilbane was also forced off sustaining an ankle injury after 62 minutes on a tackle from Yuichi Komano.
In the match itself, the Irish fell behind five minutes from half-time when Tatsuhiko Kubo was left with a clear header from six yards out.
Four minutes later though they were back on level terms when Kilbane flicked on a corner and Robbie Keane was on hand to head home at the far post.
The winning goal came after 78 minutes Niall Quinn headed down a long ball from Mark Kinsella for Keane to pick his spot.—AFP
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