Andy Gray Column: A decision that simply defies belief

KICKING Roy Keane out of the World Cup is one of the most extraordinary decisions in the history of World Cup football.

Anyone who thinks the Republic of Ireland is a better team without Keane is crackers as far as I am concerned. No team is stronger without Roy Keane. This is like France being without Zidane, Portugal without Figo, England without Beckham.

This whole situation is like Manchester United putting up with the antics of Eric Cantona. With great players, like it or not, you have to make exceptions.

I know what Roy is supposed to have said to McCarthy but colourful language is nothing new in football. The important thing is where it was said and in what circumstances. If McCarthy called the whole squad together to iron out the problem that was the wrong way to go about it.

I don't think the manager should be holding what amounted to a public meeting about the captain in front of the other players. Mick might tell me to shove it because I don't know what I'm talking about, but I am talking about handling players here.

Managers don't always pick players they like. I have played under managers I had not time for but I gave them 100 per cent and they picked me because they knew what I could do for the team.

Roy obviously had a beef about way things were. Mick should have taken him aside and said: "Listen Roy, you might not like me, I don't have much time for you but we have one common goal here and that is the Republic of Ireland and how well they do in the World Cup."

Any problems should have been dealt with, head to head, by Keane and McCarthy alone. Mick knows how valuable a player like Keane is and he should have drummed it home to Keane that he couldn't go around affecting team morale.

The trouble is when Keane lost it and said what he said in front of the 22 other players McCarthy was left with little option but to send him on his way. That situation should never have been allowed to happen.

All the players have backed the manager's decision and they are all capable of doing their country proud but when they are under the cosh on the field and they look for that combative will to win that drives on all the great sides they are going to miss Captain Keane, I guarantee that.

In the long term Roy may well regret not playing in this World Cup - but in the short term Mick McCarthy might regret not having someone of the quality of Roy Keane in that squad.

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