The Taoiseach issued a statement this evening in response to Keane’s decision not to travel and called on the Irish people to support the Irish team.
Former Irish international Ray Houghton admitted to Sky Sports News that the loss of Keane was a big one to the squad in Japan.
He said "the bad news is we have now lost our inspirational captain."
"It's sad for Roy as he's going to be remembered as the man who was sent home from the the World Cup. "He was adamant he was in the right and it had to be Mick McCarthy and the players who had to apologise to him.
"I am sure the fans were hoping Roy would go back to the squad. "I think Mick would have accepted an apology. If there was one and it was sincere I think Mick would have taken him back because he knows how important he is to the Irish squad."
Houghton said the fans would suffer most because of Keane's decision.
"The fans, they are the ones I feel sorry for. A lot of them have gone into debt to go over to Japan and support their team."