Keane 'standing up for team' - Houghton

Former Republic of Ireland international Ray Houghton has defended Roy Keane’s decision to criticise the team’s World Cup preparations.

Keane has been sent home following comments he made about the state of the team’s facilities which prompted a ‘‘slanging match’’ between the Manchester United skipper and Republic manager Mick McCarthy.

But Houghton said Keane was within his rights as the team’s captain to demand the best for his team-mates.

‘‘Roy was standing up for the whole side,’’ Houghton told BBC Sport Online.

‘‘This was about the lads and their preparations for the World Cup.

‘‘If the facilities - the pitch, buildings, equipment - are not up to scratch, he has a right to complain about them.

‘‘If someone in radio has a dodgy microphone and cannot get their levels right they would complain, and it is the same for footballers.

‘‘What I would say is that he probably went a little bit overboard in saying he wanted to leave.’’

Houghton added that the facilities provided by the Football Association of Ireland were modest during his career.

‘‘The quality of the facilities during my career did bother me in some respects.

‘‘We would not necessarily go by the cheapest method but, if you like, the easiest way.

‘‘We should have put our foot down when we had the chance. We were a successful side and could have done it but we missed the opportunity.

‘‘Roy has probably been on the phone to his Manchester United team-mates who play for England, listening to them saying where they are staying and how well they are being treated.’’

Houghton is also quick to recognise that Keane’s absence is a massive blow for the team’s chances of qualifying for the second phase.

‘‘He is irreplaceable, but the Republic have won without him before and will have to do it again.

‘‘He must be very frustrated and there must be something we don’t know about for him to quit just before a World Cup.

‘‘I was surprised but he must have been very frustrated and in an untenable position.’’

Frank Stapleton questioned whether Keane might quit playing altogether.

Keane had already said he would retire from international football after the World Cup and former Irish striker Stapleton is worried the midfielder might now stop playing for Manchester United as well.

‘‘I think this is bad news for everybody and not just Ireland, but perhaps Manchester United as well,’’ Stapleton told PA Sport.

‘‘Will he continue to play or will he decide that’s it for him? We’ll have to wait and see, but this is certainly unprecedented for Irish sport.’’

Stapleton feels Keane left McCarthy no option but to send him home because of his constant carping, and claims the Irish captain ‘‘went over the top’’ in his comments.

‘‘In the end I just think Roy went over the top,’’ said Stapleton. ‘‘He crossed that line and that’s unacceptable.

‘‘I don’t think the manager could have done anything else to be honest with you and really Roy had backed him into a corner.

‘‘He had to respond and this is the outcome. Obviously it’s a huge blow for Ireland on the eve of the World Cup and no-one is the winner in this situation.

‘‘I think there’s a lot more to this story than we’ve heard so far and I think there could be more to come out in the wash.’’

Eamonn Dunphy, who is writing Keane’s biography, claimed the player was a victim of his own courage and professionalism.

He said: ‘‘The management couldn’t take the criticism which was well deserved and this is disastrous.

‘‘It’s bad news for Irish soccer and the morale of the team will suffer. Their ability to accomplish the task is diminished and in who’s interest this is, I’m not sure.’’