O’Neill backs Keane over bust-ups with players
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has been forced to defend assistant roy Keane after claims by one of their own players that he called Harry Arter a ‘ f*** ing p****’ and squared up to Jonathan Walters during a series of explosive summer rows.
In an astonishing WhatsApp voice message recorded by Stephen Ward and leaked on social media, the Burnley left back alleges that Keane launched expletive-laden attacks on both players after they were advised to sit out training by medical staff.
The bust-ups occurred in May and June when Ireland played friendly matches against France and the USA, although Ward was not in the squad.
The manager does not deny that Keane argued with the players but he disputes Ward’s version.
Cardiff midfielder Arter has since told O’Neill that he does not want to be considered for selection, while striker Walters played during last week’s 4-1 defeat in Wales but will be rested for tonight’s friendly here in Poland.
And during an animated 34-minute press conference at the Stadion Wroclaw last night, O’Neill passionately stood by his controversial No 2.
‘First of all, Stephen wasn’t there, he’s just picking up on things,’ said O’Neill.
‘I think there are differences over what was said (but there was) a confrontation with Jon and a confrontation with Harry. Jon is fine. Harry perhaps not so fine.
‘(roy) was looking for exacting standards and that’s exactly what I want, whatever way they are mentioned to people.
‘Sometimes I think the game has changed. But hopefully it hasn’t changed that much that there are some things you can still say to a player, maybe using some industrial, heavy-duty language at the end of it all, if you think they can actually take it and go out and prove the person wrong.’
Ward says he had been told that Keane challenged the players when they sat out of a training session because of fitness concerns.
Walters and Keane, alleges Ward, squared up to each other and had to be pulled apart.
Walters, it is claimed, then sent a text message to Keane inviting him to his hotel room in France to talk through their differences but the offer was declined.
It was when the squad returned to Ireland, says Ward, that Keane clashed with Arter in the treatment room — again over his absence from training — causing the player to walk back to his room after being verbally abused by the former Manchester United captain.
But when asked if Keane’s version of events tallied with Ward’s recording, O’Neill said: ‘No. It doesn’t tally.’
O’Neill says there is a chance Keane and Arter could now meet to reconcile their differences and has left the door open on Ward’s international future.
But, of the message, he said: ‘Do I have sympathy or empathy for a 33-year-old who has known about social media for a lengthy time and says he’s just telling it to a crowd of mates?
‘Today... probably not. Tomorrow... probably not also.
‘He has been betrayed by some of his friends, who he has known for a long, long time. That will be a disappointment for him.
‘But I think that Stephen has apologised to roy.’