Soccer: Angry Mick taken aside by friendly Figo

Ireland manager Mick McCarthy was involved in a confrontation with Portuguese counterpart Antonio Oliveira after the sides drew 1-1 in a World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road.

McCarthy later admitted that he regretted his furious reaction.

The ill-feeling between the two camps which had surfaced throughout the build-up to the Group Two game came to a head when Oliveira contemptuously dismissed McCarthy's offer of a handshake at the end.

McCarthy stiffened perceptibly and adopted an aggressive pose when Oliveira threw him a blatantly rude gesture.

It needed the diplomatic intervention of Portugal World Cup legend Eusebio, who was on the touchline, to steer the Ireland boss away from the flashpoint.

McCarthy said later: "I was angry and I reacted and perhaps I should not have done.

"I went to shake his (Oliveira's) hand because we had just played a great match and after a ding-dong like that it is what I naturally do.

"But he didn't want to shake hands and I don't know why. He did something else and I reacted. It is all very unsavoury and I would really like to forget it."

Luis Figo, who had scored Portugal's 79th minute equaliser which deprived Ireland of a memorable win after Roy Keane's 66th minute strike, also jumped into the after-match fray, wrapping his arms around McCarthy in what became a reciprocal hug.

McCarthy said: "I'd rather have a hug from Figo than the other guy. My esteem for Figo is far greater as both a footballer and a man."

Oliveira, who had complained bitterly all week about his team's alleged treatment from both the FAI and Fifa - who had put a worldwide ban on alleged drug-taker Fernando Couto just 48 hours before kick-off - later refused to let his after-match comments to the Portuguese media be translated into English.