Football’s lesson in forgive, maybe forget

There are several parallels between that and the current cricket crisis. Then, the immediate cause of the fight was Keane’s interview to the Irish Times in which he was bitterly critical of the team’s set-up, training facilities, vision, expectations, professionalism.

McCarthy read it in Saipan, where the team were camping in the days before the tournament began. He called a team meeting and asked whether anyone was dissatisfied with the arrangements. When no one responded, he turned to Keane and asked him directly.

The entire exchange (though possibly one version) is reprinted in Keane’s eponymous autobiography. Keane though the manager was winding him up and says he tried to play it down but ‘‘suddenly I snapped’’.

The volley that followed made headlines all over the football world, especially in Japan, where this writer was covering the World Cup.

‘‘You’re a f****** w*****. I didn’t rate you as a player, I don’t rate you as a manager and I don’t rate you as a person. You’re a f****** w***** and you can stick your World Cup up your a***. I’ve got no respect for you.’’

That said, he got up and left the room. Within moments he was packing his bag to return home, even as McCarthy issued a statement saying he was being sent home for breach of discipline.

In the next few days McCarthy said Keane was welcome back provided he apologised, the Irish FA said it backed mcCarthy, the players issued a statement saying they didn’t want him back and Keane responded by saying he wasn’t thinking of returning. Back home, public opinion — raked up by endless play on TV, radio and the tabloids — was split down the line, half supporting coach and half backing the (by now ex-) captain.

So how has this panned out over the years? McCarthy eventually quit in 2003 (on unrelated grounds) and Keane returned to international football in May 2004, playing under a new coach. The same fans who had verbally lynched him were soon singing his praises once again.

Sounds familiar?