Thomas claims Keane decision racist

ROY KEANE would not have been punished for his controversial autobiography had he 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 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.

"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," said the former Wales international.

"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."

Keane 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.

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.

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 Alex Ferguson had predicted he would be ready to return after surgery.

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

"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, former Chelsea captain and hard man Ron Harris believes Keane would not get away with his rough-house style had he been playing in his era.

The man nicknamed 'Chopper' during his 18 years at Stamford Bridge because of his tough tackling, believes Keane is the Premiership's only real tough nut with no one else to stand up to him and feels Keane would have had to play very differently had he been around 30 years ago.

Harris said: "I think Roy Keane is a tremendous player but believe you me, he wouldn't have pushed people around if he had been playing when I was playing.

"He's a tough character but I wouldn't put him in the same mould as people like Peter Storey, Dave Mackay or Tommy Smith. He wouldn't get involved with people like that and if he did I know who I would have backed.''

Harris does not believe Keane will ever change his robust ways in spite of the latest ban but admits he cannot think of anyone in the Premiership who gives the United captain as good as he gets.

"Football is like a non-contact sport now. If you were the big hard man playing against a load of pussyfoots it was easy. If someone was giving him a hard time would Keane be so big in his own boots? "Keane's been in bother for the last four of five years so I don't think he'll change because of this. The fine is nothing to him and he'll make it back easily with his book."