Critics put boot in after Roy’s red card shame

By Simon Stone

ROY KEANE could find himself out in the cold until November as the critics line up to condemn him after his weekend red card shame at Sunderland.

The 31-year-old Manchester United skipper was red-carded for the 10th time in his United career after catching Jason McAteer in the face with his elbow during the 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.

After indicating his unhappiness with both McAteer and referee Uriah Rennie over the incident, United boss Alex Ferguson will today decide whether to appeal against the dismissal.

However, a consensus of former players believe Keane deserved his punishment and any challenge will prove fruitless.

With an automatic three-match ban almost certain, the former Republic of Ireland international can also expect to be charged with bringing the game into disrepute by the Football Association over comments made in his autobiography about his infamous tackle on Alfie Haaland last April.

If a similar three-match suspension follows for that offence, Keane could find himself out of Premiership action from the September 11 clash with Bolton to the Old Trafford encounter with Southampton on November 2.

Ferguson was alone in defending Keane for his last-minute challenge, which came shortly after his skipper had been saved from confronting McAteer by Rennie following the Sunderland player's crude tackle from behind.

It maintained a feud which began during Ireland's World Cup build-up and was fuelled by McAteer who took on Keane's former role as international skipper for the friendly win in Finland claiming he would prefer to buy a Bob the Builder CD for his son than read the Manchester United man's book. Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has already condemned Keane's decision to write such a candid autobiography and admitted he regretted the latest twist in the United skipper's turbulent career.

''We do not want to see players revisiting old issues,'' he said.

''The sporting field should not become a battleground for revenge and recrimination.

"It looks as though the Irish problem is impinging on the domestic game.

"Is this going to happen every time Roy comes up against one of his international colleagues?'' Although he insisted on Friday he ''wasn't losing any sleep'' over possible FA action, Keane has hardly helped quell the almost constant front and back page headlines which have surrounded him in recent weeks.

Apart from his dismissal, he also went back into print, stating he did not care if current Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy ''rots in hell,'' reopening the fallout between the pair which ended with Keane's walkout from the World Cup.

Now it looks as though he will have plenty of time to consider his future, with only Champions League action to sustain him over the next two months. ''He knew what the Jason McAteer situation was. It isn't something which has happened overnight and I thought he would have been craftier and got his revenge another way,'' said United legend Lou Macari.

''If you get the chance to put in a really decent tackle you do it, but when you are a marked man you have to put up with the aggravation.

''It is difficult to say how much contact there was, but he was foolish showing intent.''

Keane also raised the ire of Phil Neville when he shoved the England full-back in the chest as he tried to contest a free-kick decision which had gone against him.

Neville briefly responded, raising suggestions all is not well in the Old Trafford dressing room after the captain's pre-season claims his team-mates were spending too much time admiring their Rolexes and mansions than concentrating on winning matches.

David O'Leary believes Keane's latest antics have left Ferguson with a problem.

"He has not become a liability but questions will be asked over how long Alex Ferguson can go on defending him,'' the former Leeds boss said.

"Roy didn't leave the referee any choice.

"Jason McAteer always seems to have plenty to say for himself, but Roy is going to have a lot of that as the season goes on. But he owes it to his manager not to get involved.''

Ironically, O'Leary whose own diary of a turbulent season at Leeds was the catalyst for his sacking at Elland Road said Keane should not have penned his autobiography.

"I stand by my book I just regret the title,'' said O'Leary of his own "Leeds United on Trial."

"But I wouldn't have done a book like Roy has. If he does something, he wants to do it right and he wanted to tell everything as he saw it.

"All he has done is allowed other people to jump on the bandwagon.''