PRESS CONFERENCE Q&A: How Mick McCarthy, flanked by three senior players, broke the news that he was sending Roy Keane home

Q: This looks fairly serious, Mick.

McCarthy: Well, it is because Roy Keane will be taking no part in the World Cup. He's going home.

Q: Why is that?

McCarthy: There's been an uneasy feel around the place and you asked me to come and make my comments on comments that were made. I don't want to be doing that throughout the World Cup, tit-for-tat, in the media because it's not my way and I felt it was important to air any grievances the players may or may not have with the players, with the staff collectively. You are aware of them, you asked me to comment on Roy's comments. And I've called a meeting and I've asked anybody, certainly Roy, to make his comments rationally and logically and that didn't happen. I'm afraid that turned into a bit of a slanging match and I'm afraid I can't, will not tolerate, well, being spoken to like that ... the level of abuse that was thrown at me. So I have sent him home.

Q: How big a blow is this to your squad's chances in this World Cup?

McCarthy: As a player I'm very sorry to lose him because we all acknowledge his ability, but as a squad member I'm not bothered one bit.

Q: Was this decision taken in he light of what happened at this meeting?

McCarthy: This decision was taken because of what was said at that meeting.

Q: Were all 23 players at that meeting?

McCarthy: Absolutely, yeah.

Q: Did you inform your players of your decision at the end of the meeting.

McCarthy: It was a very public show of opinions and hostility in front of everybody. Look, there's certain things that can be said in private to players, and I'm certainly one that does that, players will back me up on that. But when something was made as public as the criticism of virtually everything (by Keane) ... I know that since the beginning of the week the chat has been all about Roy going to go home in the first place, then coming back. Everything today, all the press conferences, have been about that and I have to be honest, I was a little tired of it. You know my feeling was that I was going to come and respond to the criticism, not to you publicly, but to the players and that's what I did. And for me that is the right and proper way to do it.

Q: How do you feel personally about this?

McCarthy: I know it's going to be one of the biggest stories of the World Cup, but that doesn't bother me. I have taken the decision and I stand by it 100 per cent and it doesn't concern me at all. I'll tell you as a player ... (he's) a fantastic player but I'm not prepared to put up with that kind of abuse.

Q: When you say it was a slanging match, was it purely between you and Roy?

McCarthy: Yes.

Q: Can you tell us the nature of the abuse?

McCarthy: No, no. If somebody wants to reveal the nature of that then it's not coming from me but I'm not tolerating it. I tried to be reasonable and rational, I didn't want to go to Izumo tomorrow morning and end up with this being the sole topic of conversation, then on and on and on. And I really wanted to resolve it, but I'm afraid that didn't materialise.

Q: So you clearly felt that it was more disruptive to have him around in these conditions than not here at all?

McCarthy: The reason I tried to cover it up was because there was a feeling of unease. The reason we were here was for R&R, for a little relaxation, and I walked into this meeting tonight at 7.30 to find the band in there playing and the lads were singing along to it, having a great time. A little bit of me wondered whether I should disrupt that. But there are certain things that have to be said and I'm afraid I think I was pushed far enough. Defending people, supporting people, standing up for people, well it's about time I stand up for myself, support myself.

Q: When you went up to Roy and said "I'm sorry, you're going home," can you tell us how he reacted then?

McCarthy: That's not an issue now. I think the news is he's going home.

Q: You're a person who has talked a lot about loyalty. Do you think that you're loyalty has been betrayed?

McCarthy: Do you know who I'm being loyal to? And I'm being loyal, I reckon, to everybody. I've never let anybody down.

Q: No, I'm saying, do you feel your loyalty has been betrayed by Roy?

McCarthy: I would like to think the way I treat people is reciprocated. I've no worries about what's happening. I know it's going to be a big story but it doesn't concern me, I've made the decision. In my mind it's the right decision for the benefit, not only of me, it will benefit the squad and we will move on. We'll be all right, we'll be all right because collectively I think the lads are all supportive.

Q: At the meeting, did you invite Roy to say what he felt?

McCarthy: Absolutely. I addressed some of the issues that had been said and I asked him as captain to give his opinion.

Q: Did you consider taking this action earlier than today?

McCarthy: Well, when somebody of Roy's ability does say he's going home that's a big enough story, when he turns around and stays ... I think he's one of the best players in the world and I think when he's fired up and when he plays with us we've proved we are a good side and perhaps can be slightly better with him in it than if he's not. But if he decides he wants to leave and then not, then I accept his change of mind and I had to ring Colin Healy. But I will not have that going on and I think that it's a disruptive influence.

Q: Obviously he can't leave the island until tomorrow. Is there any possibility of a change of mind now?

McCarthy: Absolutely not.

Q: Mick, I spoke to Roy today and he said all he wants is what's best for the team. And he said that maybe it's typical of Roy, people say Roy should shut up, he said "I can't shut up. I'm half way around the world and I say what I feel".

McCarthy: Well, those comments are all well and good, but I don't see too many complaints from anybody else. I think sometimes Roy sees the world through his eyes and it's completely different to everybody else.

Q: Did you not think he had the best interests of the team at heart?

McCarthy: Did he have the best interests of the team at heart when he said he was going to go home for personal reasons?

Q: Were you let down by the fact that he said that there were personal reasons, but when he talked today his personal reasons seemed to be the playing facilities, the length of the flight?

McCarthy: Look, when I was told, I specifically asked him. 'Is it me?' 'No'. 'Is it the training ground?' 'No' 'Is it the flight? Is it the fact there was a media circus when we left the airport? What is it? Is there anything that can be done to change it?' And it was none of those things. It was personal. He said 'It was me, it's me, it's me'. Personal. But that's all gone because that changed.

Q: What changed it? Was it the article in The Irish Times?

McCarthy: I think I certainly have to address public criticism of that magnitude, if you like, about everything, about wanting the best. You don't think I want the best for these ... I've walked into a room tonight and I'll tell you I've seen 22, 23 players having a ball and I thought 'this is brilliant, they are relaxed'. And next week when we get there we've got one week and we'll be preparing. And Izumo's completely different, the facilities are fantastic. I knew that. But this place has been wonderful. The players ... ask them. This place has been first class except for one ... The whole trip has. We travel out here, we're in the same time zone. In fact, we gain an hour going back now. We're in hotter, more humid conditions. We've had relaxation, we've had anonymity. We've had everything I really wanted. And now we can go and prepare with eight days for the World Cup.

Q: Mick, three of your senior players are obviously sitting here in the room here with you so I assume that you have the full backing of the rest of the squad for the decision that you've made.

McCarthy: I think you'll have to ask the players that.

Q: Did you think that Roy has been adisruptive influence within the squad?

McCarthy: Did I say that?

B: You said he was a disruptive influence.

McCarthy: I'm not prepared to comment on that. This is an issue that has come up over the last few days and I've dealt with it now.

B: Who'll take over as captain?

McCarthy: I think he might be sat here. I think you might be looking at him on my left here. Steve Staunton's your captain. (laughs) No, it's not Milo (Corcoran, FAI president).

Q: Did you get the feeling Roy has missed the point because everybody else has come here, they've made the most of the facilities?

McCarthy: Well, judging by the comments ... maybe he has. Maybe he doesn't want to see that point of view. And, well, we've all got different opinions on it. And he's got very strong ones. I've tried to be rational and reasonable about them, but it's not happened so ...

Q: Do you feel any bitterness about when this has happened? McCarthy: No. No not at all. I'll tell you what, the decision's made. I stand by it.

Q: Is it a weight of your mind?

McCarthy: Yes. Yeah. This has been ... these are things that should have been said publicly. But not publicly in here. Between the lads, private, staff, players. But they haven't been and there's been little rumblings around the place. You're not silly enough, you lot, not to understand that that's been going on. And I came here to enjoy this World Cup and I'll tell you what, I was beginning to think I wasn't. I was stopping enjoying it. Well I'll tell you I'll move on here tomorrow and I'm going to.

Q: Do you think Roy's okay mentally?

McCarthy: That's a completely unfair question to ask me. This is something that's happened between me and Roy and I'm not going to go into that sort of a question. I think it's completely outrageous to ask me that.

Q: Mick, you said there were very abusive comments made about you in front of the players. Would it be possible that you might feel strongly enough that you might take legal advice?

McCarthy: I don't think (laughing) that they are those type of comments. I don't think that I can sue for them. You might hear them elsewhere, in different places. As a player, as a coach, as a person, I will not tolerate somebody saying that to me and I said to the lads that that's the decision I've made. I said it's a huge decision but I'm quite happy with it. It's done.

Q: At any stage did any of the players get involved in this?

McCarthy: No. Not at all.

Q: Are you allowed to call in another player, because you can only normally do that if you have a medical certificate for an injury or something.

McCarthy: I'm happier to go with being one man down than to go in with somebody who shows complete and utter disregard and disrespect for me.

Q: That's very strong language, very emotional language you're using.

McCarthy: I think it's a very strong and emotional thing that's happened, isn't it? And I'm actually trying to keep a very calm and straight head about it and I think I'm managing that.

Q: Niall (Quinn), you were nodding when Mick said the players were 100 per cent behind him?

Niall Quinn: Well, as a senior player, I think it's very important we move on. And I know Roy a long time, been a friend for a long, long time, but what's happened in the last few days has been astonishing.

But there's only one way forward and that's to look forward. I'll say goodbye to Roy and wish him well with the rest of his career, but my priority now is to show complete allegiance to Mick, to the squad and to get everybody who is in a little state of bewilderment to get them looking at things in the same way. It all goes hand in hand with supporting Mick and getting the rest of the lads right because it has been difficult and I'll do everything I can for Mick and for Ireland.

Q: Could you sense unease around the squad in the last few days?

Quinn: I think everybody could. And the more you tried to forget about it, I think the more it popped up. This has happened. I think it's a bad moment and we can't gloss over it. We have to look at the moment but we have to look forward now and it's all systems go to go forward, we really have to do out country proud and to go out and show a real resolve over the next few weeks.

Q: How much do the players now feel that Roy has let them down?

Quinn: I don't think it's being spoken about like that. From a football point of view of course we'd love to have Roy Keane playing for us, we'd love him as our captain and we'd love him to be right but it hasn't happened that way and ...there'll be a void there, of course, there will but we've to show a bit of character now, what we're about. The fighting Irish is what we've been called for years and now his has given us an opportunity to go out and show it.

Q: He said in the interview that he was speaking for a lot of the players and that a lot of the players, you know, weren't brave enough to voice he same fears ...

Quinn: Well I think, Roy's probably said that a lot of players weren't brave enough to go to the papers and say it. But the players will all tell you that we all say it, that the pitch is crap or this and that, wherever we've gone around the world. And I don't know whether it's bravery running to the papers and talking about it. You call it bravery, other people call it disruptiveness.

Q: Alan (Kelly) You said today that you're possibly Roy's closest friend in the squad, so there's obviously mixed emotions for you, is there?

Kelly: Not at all. Like Quinny I'm in 110 per cent, unequivocal support of Mick. I think, to be honest, that Roy's let himself down here. The things that have been said shouldn't have been said. I'd never witnessed it in my time around. But like I've said, we have to move on. There's 22 in the squad now. We have to show great character. Like I say, there are some things that happen in football and some things you can accept. You can have arguments, I've had an argument with Roy the other day, but there's a line you can't go over and that line's been breached today. That's why I'm here to show my support for Mick.

Q: Were you shocked by what was said?

Kelly: I have to admit that I was shocked, yeah. I'm not going to lie to you, I was shocked by it. Like I said, I'm behind Mick in what he's done because it wasn't right to say the things Roy said to him and I think most of the players that were in the room were shocked by it. And the decision was made and all I can say now is that that's it, we have to abide by it. We have to go forward, show a lot of character and get on with the next phase in Tokyo and that's what we'll do.

Q: Will you talk to Roy, maybe over the next week and sort of talk it through that he was overstepping the mark in some of the things that he was saying or doing?

Kelly: I've got absolutely no problem in knocking on Roy's door tonight and having a discussion with him about it. It might be he doesn't want to speak to me, but I would have no qualms about telling him what I think, how unacceptable it was. No, not a problem.

Q: Do you know what his motivation was?

Kelly: Like I've said before, like Mick's said, that's something you'll have to ask Roy.

Q: Stephen (Staunton) Are you, like the other players, 100 per cent behind Mick and the action that was taken?

Staunton: It was unacceptable, I'm not going to say anything different to what's been said already. I've never witnessed anything like it in my life. And, you know, there is a line. You can't cross it. And unfortunately Roy has crossed it. And he knows as well what's going to happen if you cross that line.

Q: Steve, why do you think he said those things?

Staunton: Well, I think it's been ... with Roy, I think it's been with him for a long time and he's just let it come out. It's as simple as that.

Q: Steve, as the captain now, what can you do to try and gel your squad together?

Staunton: We'll do what we've been doing for the last week. We've got a great set of lads in there. It's been a great week really in, I'd say 99 per cent of the things that we've done. We've all said the pitch is terrible. But we know that, we've gone out there and done a little bit of training. The facilities here have been nothing short of first class. We've all had a long hard season. We've wanted alittle bit of sun and relaxation, no media, no major autograph sessions.

Q: Stephen, Roy said specifically that the facilities weren't up to scratch, do you deny that? He was talking about the training ground?

Staunton: Well the training ground wasn't great but we've played on worse.

Q Was it an unacceptable risk?

Quinn: No, no, definitely not.

Staunton:: Peter, we've come here for relaxation, a bit of sun, no hassle and we've got that. The one down side was that the pitch wasn't great. With all the will in the world the AUL isn't the greatest either.

Q: This kind of think happened before. In '94 there was a row as well. Why is this one different?

Staunton: In '94?

Q: With Keane. He was involved in '94 as well, wasn't he, with Maurice Setters?

Staunton: I don't know.

McCarthy: Can I excuse myself because if you're going back to '94 then I think I'm going to go.

Q When's Roy going home? Is he leaving you guys now?

McCarthy: It's not actually something that I've sat and discussed with him you'll appreciate.

Q: Can I just ask Milo (Corcoran) the president of the association, are you fully supportive of the action that your manager has taken tonight?

Corcoran: Oh absolutely, yes. I'm surprised that his action has been taken but Mick looks after team affairs. There's no problem.

Q: So you're supportive.

Corcoran: Fully supportive.

Q: Were you at the meeting?

Corcoran: No, I wasn't.

Q: You're aware that the fact that the Republic of Ireland squad is going to the World Cup with no Roy Keane is going to have a massive impact?

Corcoran:: Yes, but we have a 22-man squad, hopefully we can have a 23-man squad by the time the World Cup comes around. We still have a good squad, good players. We have to look forward, as some of the lads say, not look back.

Q: Will you be reporting to the FAI on this, Mick? Do you report to the FAI after international occasions?

McCarthy: No I don't. But I'm sure there'll be a lot of discussion about it. Absolutely reams of paper written about it, but as far as I'm concerned the decision's done and I'm not going to talk about it any more. Not tonight anyway.

Q In view of the exceptional circumstances here now, do you think that you might be obliged to say something to the FAI?

McCarthy: Well, if they require a report, then I'll give them a report. But Milo said something, I'm in charge of team affairs, and if that ever changes I won't be around.

Compiled by Emmet Malone