10 Footballers Who Refused To Play
1. Roy Keane
Nothing makes Roy Keane's blood boil quite like absolutely everything. But out of everything, it was once only the unutterable name of 'Mick McCarthy' which turned the Irish hatchetman's face a shade of crimson that'd have Beelzebub himself grasping for the aftersun.
What could have wound our Roy up quite so much? After all, isn't Manager Mick just a loveable Yorkshiremen with a penchant for lustily stirring coffee and being spooked by imaginary ghosts?
Well, the enmity predates McCarthy's touchline hauntings and George Michael tributes, going back to his time in charge of the Ireland national team - and during the height of Keane's preeminence. Ahead of their tilt at World Cup 2002, the Pacific island of Saipan was chosen by the FAI as a retreat for the squad before they'd jet off to Japan for the tournament proper. For the ultra-professional Keane, the relaxed regime simply wasn't up to scratch; as far as he was concerned, he was going to the World Cup to win it, not for an extended Far East holiday. He duly walked out - only to later change his mind.
That was far from the end of the matter. Agitating the trouble brewing in paradise, an edition of the Irish Times featured a scathing criticism of McCarthy's management by the Ireland captain. Days later, the same rag was waved in front of Keane's face by his manager, demanding satisfaction. When McCarthy accused Keane of faking an injury to skip the play-off with Iran, war erupted.
"You’re a f*cking w*nker. 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*cking w*nker and you can stick your World Cup up your arse," came Keane's astonishing response. "I’ve got no respect for you. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your b*llocks."
Keane departed again - this time, we were told, he had been banished. Though he missed the entire World Cup, the media scrum surrounding his home ensure he - and his adorable labrador Triggs - were still the stars of the tournament.