No luck of the Irish for Keane - Thomas

Roy Keane would not have been punished for his controversial revelations in his autobiography if he had been English.

That’s the view of former Manchester United star Mickey Thomas, whose own colourful career included a number of disciplinary problems – and even a stint in prison.

Thomas, who now follows United home and away in his role as a local radio analyst, believes Keane has been singled out by the FA and has every right to feel aggrieved at the five-game ban and record £150,000 (€237,000) fine handed down at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium.

“The tackle was a bad one and you can argue he should have received a longer ban at the time but to go back now and punish him again is wrong,” said Thomas, a former Wales international.

“When you throw in the four matches he missed after the sending-off, it is nine in all and basically it’s for following the general rule that if someone kicks you, you kick them back.

“For Haaland to stand over Keane and abuse him when the guy had just suffered a serious knee injury was not particularly nice.

“It doesn’t make what happened afterwards right but that’s the way it is in all types of football, from professionals to park players. When Roy made his comments in the book, he was just being honest. Now he is being punished for it.

“I certainly don’t think it would have happened if he had been English because there have been high profile players from England who have kicked people and they don’t seem to have been punished in this way.”

The Irishman and his legal team have two weeks to decide whether to appeal against the penalty after the 31-year-old was found guilty on two charges of bringing the game into disrepute.

Both incidents related to his horror tackle on Manchester City’s Alfie Haaland at Old Trafford last year, which, the FA believe, was improperly motivated by revenge.

Keane, currently recovering from a hip operation, appeared annoyed with the verdict when he sat alongside United director Maurice Watkins shortly after the seven-hour hearing but will take his time before deciding whether to launch a fresh challenge to clear his name.

For, while convinced of the validity of his case, Keane is also aware the FA could increase the penalties, having already stretched convention to ensure the Irishman is likely to be fit when the suspension starts.

Bans of this nature usually begin a maximum of 14 days after the hearing, Keane’s will not start for another three weeks, ironically around the same time as Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had predicted he would be ready to return after surgery.

The FA disciplinary panel offered no explanation for their decision but with Keane currently injured, United will now slog through eight domestic matches before their captain is eligible to return.

Thomas, though, doesn’t believe Ferguson’s faith in his captain will be shaken despite the ongoing row.

“Roy is a great player and captain of the club. His football talents are respected by everyone and Sir Alex is right to stand by him,” he said.

“United would never get rid of him and I don’t think they will try to change him. He is a volatile character but that is part of his personality and is what makes him the brilliant player he is.”

Meanwhile, Haaland’s employers noted yesterday’s verdict with interest.

The Norwegian has not completed a full match since the incident and though he is still training, it is looking increasingly likely that he will be forced into early retirement.

Haaland believes Keane’s challenge exacerbated a pre-existing injury to his other knee, from which he has never recovered.

Both City and their player are still discussing the possibility of legal action and a club statement released today said: “We have heard the ruling on the Roy Keane affair with interest and we will be taking it into account in our deliberations as we continue to take specialist advice.”