Linfield’s Carroll urged to explain handshake ‘snub’ to Cliftonville

CLIFTONVILLE manager Barry Gray has called on Linfield goalkeeper Roy Carroll to explain why he did not shake hands with his team before Saturday’s game.

The former Manchester United and Northern Ireland veteran walked past the opposing players during the line-up prior to the start of the match at Solitude.

The rest of the Linfield squad took part in the traditional prematch handshake between the teams.

Carroll declined to comment on the incident when contacted yesterday. Linfield have also still to comment.

However, Gray feels that the 40-year-old needs to explain his actions.

“What everyone needs to do is to ask Roy for his explanation,” he told BBC Sport NI’s Irish League Show.

“If he was in my team, I would have a massive issue with it.”

Video footage showed the goalkeeper, capped 45 times by Northern Ireland, shaking the hands of the match officials.

Walking by: Roy Carroll

He then ignores the opposition players as all his team-mates, led by Blues skipper Jamie Mulgrew, shake hands.

Gray added: “Only he can tell why he decided to do that.

“For me, it’s a ‘fair play’ handshake. He’s decided not to carry that out.”

Gray claimed that Carroll’s gesture was an attempt by the goalkeeper to be “centre stage”.

“I don’t run Linfield. I don’t manage them. I’m not too worried what he does or what he doesn’t do.

“He wants to be the limelight. There were lot of instances yesterday where he got that.”

Online reaction from the fans was mixed.

One Linfield supporter wrote: “Well done Roy Carroll, I’d have done the same.”

But another, who supports neither club, branded it “utterly pathetic”.

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, following a late equaliser from 10-men Linfield.

Carroll was brought up in Co Fermanagh, and began his career with local sides Fivemiletown United and Ballinamallard United.

He joined Hull City in September 1995 as a trainee before signing for Wigan Athletic in April 1997 for a then club-record £350,000.

He was signed by Manchester United in July 2001 and made 46 appearances for the Red Devils.

Carroll also had spells at clubs including West Ham, Rangers and Notts County.

He signed for Linfield in May 2016 and helped the Blues win the Irish Premiership and Irish Cup double in the 2016-17 campaign.