How the Keane saga unfolded

Roy Keane tonight confirmed he will pay a record £150,000 (€235,000) fine and serve a five-match domestic ban after deciding not to appeal after the Football Association found him guilty on two counts of bringing the game into disrepute last month.

The 31-year-old is still on the injury list after a recent hip operation, so would not have been available for selection anyway but hinted tonight he still nurses a sense of injustice over the issue, which relates to comments made in his autobiography.

However, for now at least, the controversy appears to be over. Here, PA Sport chronicles the key dates in Keane’s battle with authority.

AUGUST 11 – The first serialisation of Keane’s autobiography includes a vicious attacks on Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy. Also included though is an account of his infamous tackle on Manchester City’s Alfie Haaland in which Keane claims: “I’d waited almost 180 minutes for Alfie. I’d waited long enough. I hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that.” Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor immediately expresses his concerns, claiming Keane has left himself open to an FA charge. The FA state they will wait for a full transcript of the book before deciding whether to act.

AUGUST 14 – United boss Sir Alex Ferguson backs his captain, saying he “can’t see anything wrong” with the book.

AUGUST 16 – Haaland and Manchester City combine to instigate legal proceedings against Keane. The Norwegian claims the tackle exacerbated a long-standing injury and intends to sue for loss of earnings.

AUGUST 17 – Keane leads United to a 1-0 victory over West Brom at Old Trafford, then insists he “has not been affected” by the controversy over his book.

AUGUST 19 – Irish boss Mick McCarthy claims he has no regrets over his treatment of Keane during the World Cup.

AUGUST 20 – New Ireland captain Jason McAteer claims he would prefer to buy a Bob the Builder CD rather than Keane’s autobiography. FA chief executive Adam Crozier insists he will not be scared to act should any case against Keane be proven.

AUGUST 21 – Ireland international Kenny Cunningham admits his country are a weaker team in Keane’s absence.

AUGUST 27 – After the Champions League win over Zalaegerszeg, Ferguson denies reports Keane will be forced to undergo surgery on a hip injury within 24 hours. “There may be a problem further down the line,” admits the United chief.

AUGUST 29 – Keane’s autobiography released in Britain.

AUGUST 30 – Keane insists he is “not bothered” about the possibility of an FA charge, saying he will deal with it as and when it arrives. He also claims there would have been “no point” doing the book if he was not honest and states he is “delighted” with its contents.

AUGUST 31 – eane sent off for elbowing McAteer in the last minute of the 1-1 draw at Sunderland. The players had previously been involved in a tussle, with referee Uriah Rennie forced to intervene after McAteer had hacked his former international colleague down.

SEPTEMBER 1 – In another series of interviews, Keane insists he “has never set out to intentionally injure any opponent”. However, he also said he hoped McCarthy “rots in hell”. Ferguson back-tracks on his belief that Keane should not have been dismissed at the Stadium of Light.

SEPTEMBER 2 – Ferguson confirms Keane will undergo a hip operation and will be out of action for three months. Northern Irish club Linfield announce they intend to take legal action against Keane over comments in his book about the Belfast side which they claim are untrue.

SEPTEMBER 3 – United overcome Middlesbrough 1-0 at Old Trafford, after which Ferguson revises Keane’s recovery time to six weeks.

SEPTEMBER 4 – Keane charged with bringing the game into disrepute by the FA.

SEPTEMBER 18 – FA extend the deadline for Keane to respond to the charges by 48 hours.

SEPTEMBER 20 – Keane confirms he will contest both FA charges.

OCTOBER 4 – Ferguson states he expects Keane will return to training in a fortnight, with a his first match to come “within a month”.

OCTOBER 15 – Keane is hit by a record £150,000 fine and a five-match ban after a three-man FA disciplinary panel finds him guilty of two disrepute charges.

NOVEMBER 1 – The FA announce the deadline for an appeal against the punishment has elapsed without reply. Keane’s advisors immediately dispute the claim.

NOVEMBER 4 – The FA admit Keane has a further five days to lodge any appeal after being informed of a letter issued from their disciplinary department.

NOVEMBER 7 – Keane accepts his punishment, which rules him out of domestic action until the beginning of December.