Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane called police to the Ireland team hotel on Wednesday after an incident involving a member of the public, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said.
British media reports said Keane, who is an assistant to Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, was involved in an altercation at the Portmarnock Hotel north of Dublin with a fan who wanted him to sign a copy of his book.
“Following inaccurate media reports which refer to an incident involving a member of the public this evening at the Republic of Ireland team hotel, we wish to clarify that Roy Keane called the Gardai (police) following the incident,” read the FAI statement.
Ireland play Scotland in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow today.
Townsend withdraws from England squad
England winger Andros Townsend has withdrawn from the squad to play Slovenia and Scotland because of an ankle injury.
The 23-year-old Tottenham Hotspur player, who missed this year’s World Cup with an ankle injury, has not been able to train since reporting for international duty on Monday.
England host Slovenia at Wembley in a Euro 2016 Group E qualifier tomorrow before taking on Scotland in a friendly at Celtic Park on Tuesday.
Ozil targets new year
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil will not be fit until the new year at the earliest, he said yesterday.
The German international suffered a knee ligament injury early in October and had hoped to be back by Christmas.
“I have already been out for five weeks and will be out for another seven weeks,” Ozil said.
“That is a really long time but that is the way it is in football sometimes. My head is held high and we look forward.”
Arsenal have a number of other injury problems, with French internationals Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy all out at present.
I can be Xavi successor – Koke
Koke has the oversized boots of Xavi to fill following the decorated playmaker’s international retirement this year but the 22-year-old Spain midfielder is not overawed by the challenge.
As the holders prepare for tomorrow’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus in Huelva, Koke said he was focusing on working hard and “being himself”.
“No pressure at all,” Koke said when asked about being Xavi’s successor. “I want to continue going forward and growing with the national team.
“All of us who are here have to take a step forward, the youngsters and the veterans. An era was defined and we have to keep working and get to the European Championship.”
Joining Juve was right move – Morata
Alvaro Morata is confident that he made the right decision by spurning offers from England and instead signing for Juventus this summer.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal were reportedly interested in the Spanish international but he opted to move to Italy from Real Madrid.
“In the summer, I was training alone ahead of my move to Juventus,” Morata told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
“I had the option to go and play in England but I had to trust those that wanted me even when things didn’t go well.
“The Bianconeri literally came to my doorstep and told me that they wanted me.
“It was a case of loyalty.”
Giaccherini linked with Napoli move
Emanuele Giaccherini is content at Sunderland but is flattered by talk of interest from Napoli, according to the player’s agent.
The Italy international has been linked with a return to Serie A with Napoli reportedly keen to acquire his services in the next transfer window after losing winger Lorenzo Insigne to a knee injury.
“I think Insigne is much more of a striker than Giaccherini is,” agent Furio Valcareggi said.
“I am good friends with (Napoli sporting director Riccardo) Bigon but I have not spoken to him regarding Giaccherini.
“He is very happy at Sunderland although we are flattered by the Napoli link. The idea that the Azzurri club (Napoli) could be interested in Giaccherini certainly excites me.”
Hasselbaink named Burton manager
Former Leeds United and Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has taken his first management job in England, with Burton Albion, the League Two (fourth tier) club said.
He became only the third black and minority ethnic (BME) manager among the 92 Premier League and Football League clubs, along with Huddersfield Town’s Chris Powell and Carlisle United’s Keith Curle.
Born in Surinam, Hasselbaink played 23 times for the Netherlands and was in charge of Royal Antwerp for the 2013-14 season.
His appointment comes in a week when a new campaign was launched to get more non-whites involved in coaching.