Roy Keane has warned the FAI that he would consider his international future if the treatment of the players does not improve. The Manchester United and Ireland captain publicly criticised the FAI for what he believes are unacceptable conditions for him and his colleagues after producing a Man-of the Match performance in the 4-0 win in Cyprus on Saturday.
Keane was angered by the conditions at the team's training camp prior to the game and by the fact they were made to sit behind the officials on the flight. The Cork man claimed: "I am not pointing the finger at anybody, but if there was anything to make me say 'I am going to spend the week with my wife and kids at home' that would be it."
Until now Keane has remained tight-lipped about preparations surrounding the Irish squad, but the team's traditional training grounds at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh came in for some serious criticism. He insisted: "Where we trained last Monday was abysmal and it has been for as long as I've known it." But, Keane's biggest bone of contention was the travelling arrangements. He added: "I was fairly critical of the seating arrangements for the flight over here when the officials were at the front and the players behind. For me, that's simply not right and it's not because I am playing for Manchester United. The priority has to be the team and I don't always think that has been the case here. I understand the FAI can't afford certain things, but there is a lot of room for improvement."
Although goalkeepers Shay Given and Alan Kelly did join the official party in first class, Keane and the rest of the 22-man playing squad had to be content with the more confined seating directly behind.
Filed by Shane Murray
