I've followed this sorry scenario from start to finish and I think at the very least McCarthy has to shoulder atleast half the blame. First off he should have let things go after Keane and he met in private to discuss preparations eg no balls, no training kits including footwear, no medical equipment (which would have been handy considering the condition of the training pitch) and none of the special fluids that were neccesary for the players to drink during training because of the heat. Many of the players had complained and joked about the shoddy preparations and all this after a milk run flight that saw them change planes four times (I think I'd have been cranky too).

McCarthy called a meeting in front of all the players and things didn't get out of hand until he accused Keane of faking injury so as to not have to travel to Iran for the return play-off leg. Now anyone who really follows the game will know that Keane dragged himself through the first match because of his on-going knee problems. At the end of that game he met with the Irish physio and they discussed his injury. Apparently after that game Keane's knee was very swollen and it was decided that it would be too risky to involve him in the return match. The Irish team staff McCarthy included felt that 2-0 was a good enough result to bring to the second game. Keane was thanked for his contribution and told to return for treatment to Manchester. According to Keane he didn't call McCarthy an English anything. That would be unusual since he plays with and against Englishmen all the time. He admitted to calling him a fucking wanker and a crap manager.

Lets face it folks Roy Keane is one of the best midfielders in the world. So lets not compare him with the likes of David Beckham. Beckham couldn't lace Keane's boots. No one player in the history of either Manchester United or Ireland has contributed so much to his team. The man never quits. His only crime is that he sets high standards and he expects that of those around him.

And to be honest if I had been Keane and a second rate player/manager had called me a liar I think I would have popped him one on the nose aswell.