FA to probe bungle over Keane’s appeal deadline

RED-FACED FA officials will spend the weekend trying to sort out a bungle over the ban on Roy Keane.

Just 24 hours after chief executive Adam Crozier resigned amid acrimony over his autocratic role within the game's governing body, the FA confirmed on their web site that the deadline for the 31-year-old Man Utd skipper to appeal his five-match ban and £150,000 fine had passed with no reply.

However, they were informed immediately that Keane's legal representatives had a letter dated October 25 from the FA confirming the player, who is recovering from hip surgery, had 14 days, from that date, to appeal, effectively November 8.

After initially rejecting the existence of the letter, the FA have now pledged to solve the mystery, which has left them embarrassed and Keane laughing up his sleeve.

It had been thought the 14-day appeal period would run from the date of the original hearing at Reebok Stadium, Bolton, England, on October 15.

On Tuesday, the FA said Keane had until the end of office hours last night to contact them, thinking, incorrectly, that the letter confirming the player's punishment had been issued on October 18.

A statement posted on the web site yesterday included: ''Roy Keane had 14 days in which to respond from Friday, October 18, the date on which he was sent official notification of the hearing's findings. Keane's ban is due to start on November 4.''

At the hearing, the former Irish skipper was found guilty on two disrepute charges relating to comments made in his autobiography about a tackle on Manchester City midfielder Alfie Haaland at Old Trafford last year.

Should the ban be invoked, Keane will not be eligible for a Premiership return until the visit of Arsenal to Old Trafford on December 7.