Roy Keane sticks boot into Irish as he tells them to 'get over it'

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 22:53

IRELAND'S week of woe continued without mercy yesterday as first Fifa denied them a replay against France, then their former captain Roy Keane launched an astonishing attack, telling his country to "get over it", then the French FA rejected a plea to play their World Cup qualifier again.

The Football Association of Ireland remains incensed at the blatant handball by Thierry Henry that led to William Gallas' extra-time equaliser against the Republic in Paris on Wednesday, sending France to the World Cup finals next year.

Henry issued a statement yesterday insisting he was no cheat and sympathising with the Irish, but firebrand Keane – now manager of Ipswich Town – refused to give his country and its football association the slightest morsel of pity in a highly-charged interview.

Keane's relationship with the FAI broke down irreparably 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 Henry's handball.

He told a press conference, broadcast by Sky Sports News: "I've been amazed at the commotion over the past few days. I think of course Henry handled it, but I'd focus on why they (the Irish defence] didn't clear it.

"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?"

Asked if he had any sympathy for the Ireland players, some of whom were his international team-mates before he retired, Keane shrugged: "No, not one bit."

He added: "They stood off France, the second leg we had opportunities to score but didn't take them. They weren't mentally strong enough. All these players can complain all they want. France are going to the World Cup – get over it."

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."

Meanwhile, the French Football Federation (FFF) has ruled out a replay. "The decision by Fifa is final and should be respected by both federations," the FFF said.