Roy Keane keeps his eyes on the prize

Ireland soccer manager Martin O’Neill last night dismissed an incident involving Roy Keane at the team hotel as a "distraction", saying the team was "ready to go" for tonight’s Euro 2016 clash with Scotland.

The drama unfolded in the Portmarnock Hotel shortly before 6pm on Wednesday. An Ireland supporter, understood to be Boston-based publican Frank Gillespie, approached Keane, asking him to sign a copy of Keane’s The Second Half.

According to sources, Keane had a pen in hand and was preparing to sign when a disagreement developed. The book was allegedly thrust in Keane’s direction and pages torn out, with Keane allegedly pushing back, although one source stressed it was with minimum force.

The supporter ended up on the ground. It is understood that he claimed he was having difficulty moving. He received medical attention and was brought to the Mater Hospital, while Keane asked that gardaí be informed. Internal CCTV caught the incident.

Gardaí said reports that they was actively investigating the altercation were wide of the mark, stressing that, while they were aware of a “very minor incident”, no complaints had been made in relation to it.

One garda said officers attended the scene but suggested it was a “storm in a teacup”. Without any complaints being lodged, it is unlikely it will be investigated further.

At his eve-of-match press conference with team captain Robbie Keane ahead of tonight’s crunch clash, O’Neill was quizzed by journalists about the incident.

He said: “It’s only a distraction, that’s all it was. But I think we’re fine, I think the players are fine. I think the man in question is fine as well, and we’re ready to go. [Roy] is okay, he’s actually here with us now — if you could end the press conference right now it’d be great because you could catch him.”

Asked by another reporter if Keane had spoken to the squad after the incident in Dublin, O’Neill replied tersely: “Why would he do that? No, no. He spoke to me.”

Earlier, in a video statement issued by the FAI, O’Neill said: “The FAI and I have been fully briefed about the circumstances of what happened in the team hotel last night. Roy asked that the gardaí be called and he has notified them of what happened.

“While this process is ongoing we are unable to say more at this point. However, I can say that, having been made aware of the facts, Roy has both my full support and the full support of the FAI and John Delaney.”

The FAI said Keane had not been scheduled to make any media appearances prior to tonight’s game at Celtic Park and would not be drawn on whether or not the incident was likely to result in any changes to security arrangements at squad training camps.

Keane declined to give reporters his version of the events, while the office of his solicitor, Michael Kennedy, referred any queries to his club, Aston Villa. Mr Gillespie, a long-time supporter of the Ireland team, could not be contacted. It is believed he may have travelled to Glasgow to attend tonight’s match.