No Keane complaints this time
ROY Keane will not be repeating his famous walkout from the Republic of Ireland camp of 2002 despite his bed at the team’s Euro 2016 base being too soft.
The former national team skipper flew home from the 2002 World Cup finals 14 years ago without kicking a ball in protest at the facilities on offer at their base on the Pacific island of Saipan but he has no such complaints this time around.
Speaking at the Republic’s training camp in Versailles on Saturday ahead of Monday night’s Group E opener against Sweden, Keane said: “The facilities are brilliant – they’re a credit to everyone in the set-up here . . . the training pitch, the hotel, the location.
“It’s been fantastic and so far the welcome we have had where we are staying with the staff, the food, we’re delighted.
“The Football Association of Ireland’s organisation has been brilliant. If I was trying to find something that was wrong, then maybe my bed’s a bit too soft but other than that, it’s great. We’re enjoying it.”
Heightened security around the tournament means armed guards are patrolling the team hotel, which is strictly off limits to media and fans.
However, 44-year-old Keane insists their presence is far from intrusive.
He said: “No, it’s not really affected me. But these are good security guys – they are not in your face, they are not lying at the end of your bed, it’s just around the hotel and they are very discreet and that’s why they are very good at their jobs.”
Asked if it was a shame that that was part of the game now, Keane replied: “I think we are so focused on the games that we haven’t thought too much about it. We can’t do much about it.”