“DISBELIEF AND DISGUST”.
These are the three words used by former Irish international Keith Andrews to describe his feelings about Ireland’s €5m pay-out from FIFA after the Thierry henry handball incident in November 2009.
The FAI has come in for a lot of criticism after details of the payout were revealed by Chief Executive John Delaney this week, with players and coaches confirming they had no knowledge of such a deal.
A confidentiality agreement meant that the details of what the FAI say was a loan – which was written off when Ireland failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup – were kept secret until this week, when it was eventually made public.
And speaking on Newstalk’s Off The Ball last night the former Irish international, who played in Paris on the night of the infamous handball, said he was shocked to learn of the pay-out.
“Disbelief and disgust would be the two words that have cropped up, in my head, over the last couple of days, as the news was coming out.
“The fans, the country as a whole, we have been able to hold our heads up high about the affair; and with great dignity. That was the one comfort we all had from that night in Paris, and now I think that has been taken away from us. I find it all very very sad,” Andrews said.
Andrews continued that while the FAI were right to seek answers and justice from FIFA after the playoff defeat, morally they were wrong to accept the money.
“As a player at the time, and I’m back to being a fan now, it doesn’t sit well for me. In either camp,’ he continued. ‘If you are asking me, personally, if I would have taken a penny from them, absolutely not.
“Do I blame them from going and try to undo the injustice we suffered that night, no absolutely not. But to take the money off them, for me personally, was wrong,” he added.
He went on to label the pay-out “hush money”, saying that FIFA fobbed the FAI off with a quick cash injection.
“The way they went about it, the lack of transparency with this whole affair, with the amount of money given and FIFA coming out and saying it was a loan, well it wasn’t a loan, it was hush money to, literally get rid of John Delaney, the FAI, anyone who was saying anything about that night. It was hush money, quite simply.”
To say his career in management has been ‘largely unsuccessful’ is incorrect.He did have success at Sunderland.
That’s why I said ‘largely unsuccessful’ rather than ‘entirely unsuccessful’ Eamonn.
To call his management ‘largely unsuccessful ‘ is unfair Paul. He took Sunderland from bottom of the table to win the championship. Success.Then he kept them in the Prem. more success.
Already sick of the Roy Keane stories. I’ve read sweet f**k all about Martin O’Neill who last time I checked, was actually appointed boss, not Keane.
By the way I hope that O’Neill does not start tiptoeing around d**kheads like Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson, begging them to come play for Ireland. If he puts 11 men out there who replicate the pride, commitment and passion shown by the likes of the Clare and Cork hurlers last month, in every game they play then ill be happy enough. You can’t ask for more than that. Leave the primadonnas at home.
Agreed. Had to laugh at Stephen Ireland being interviewed and saying he’s going to give some consideration to coming back. He hasn’t done anything to merit it since he was playing for City.
Last month, Roy helped his old Forest mate Gary Charles with some coaching at a University of Nottingham football match. I talked to some of the boys – after they got over the shock of Keane walking into their dressing room unannounced, they said he was articulate, obviously enthusiastic about what they were doing, and helpful in his critique. This is just one example of what he’s been doing the last three years; from helping some university players to observing training at Barcelona – he hasn’t just been walking the dogs and working for ITV. He’s been serious about trying to improve his skill set and I suspect he’s had a good old think about where he’s gone wrong in the past in his management style.
Since when does coaching come into international football??? Coaching is done at your club.
Tactics & the motivation are the only thing an international manager (that’s Martin O Neill everyone not Keane, just try remember that) gets to do with the short amount of time with the players……
Good work journo, another nonsense story
Lets take them across the water. Gerrard and Lampard could never play well together as they’ve only ever played one style of football and basically only predominantly for one club.
Coaching them at international level was the only way to get them to change their style of playing. Unfortunately for England it didn’t work. Possibly a good coach may have made it work.
A coach is essential at all levels.
A hotshot…. In precious few days that you have the players, how can you coach them?? Team organisation, tactics & mentally preparing them for an international match should be just scrapped for coaching grown men???
Kids get coached, precessionals listen to tactics
@Kevin: Maybe the lack of success was because they were trying to coach these two top players into a style of football they were both uncomfortable with, rather than having the tactical fluency to play them as they would wish to be played.
People seem to forget Martin O Neill is the manager not Roy Keane
I think your article is very misleading Paul. You are damning his coaching ability by criticising his man management skills. From what I gather he is an intelligent and innovative coach on the training ground whose management career was stifled by issues with the man management rather than the coaching.
I meant ‘coaching style’ in the broader sense of the word, Joseph. Man management can be considered a part of coaching.
Id disagree, man management is part of management, coaching can be a part of management too but would be more widely considered, in the context of British football at any rate, as the work done with players on the training pitch.
Sorry to say that while your articles are normally good I’m afraid you should have given this one a miss, it smacks of Sun type journalism.
FACT: Martin O’Neill is ROI manager
FACT:Roy Keane is his assistant and no doubt part of his coaching staff.
Why is all the talk about Roy and not what Martin brings to the job. From reports I have read, I have no idea one way or the other, O’Neill can be quite tough when he wants to be. So less of the jumping on the Dunphy bandwagon please.