Roy Keane has criticised the Republic of Ireland’s attempts to get their controversial World Cup play-off match against France replayed.
The Republic appealed to FIFA after their 2-1 aggregate defeat by France arguing that the game should be replayed as the winning goal came after a blatant Thierry Henry handball.
But Ipswich boss Keane said: “They can complain all they want but France are going to the World Cup – get over it.
“France were there for the taking and Ireland didn’t do it. Same old story.”
The Irishman, who made 65 appearances for the Republic as a player, continued: “If I’d been there in the dressing room after the game, I wouldn’t be talking about the handball. I’d focus on why the defenders didn’t clear it. They should’ve cleared it.
“I’d be more annoyed with my defenders and my goalkeeper than Thierry Henry. How can you let the ball bounce in your six-yard box? How can you let Thierry Henry get goal-side of you? If the ball goes into the six-yard box, where the hell is my goalkeeper?
“These are skills and lessons you learn as a schoolboy.
“Ireland had their chances in the two games and they never took them. They had chances at Croke Park (in the first leg) and they had chances on Wednesday.
“They didn’t take them, but it’s the usual FAI (Football Association of Ireland) reaction – ‘we’ve been robbed, the honesty of the game…’ It’s rubbish.”
And Keane highlighted controversial decisions went Ireland’s way in the qualifying campaign, and in particular a penalty award against Georgia which helped them to clinch a 2-1 qualifying win in February.
“There was one match against Georgia where Ireland got a penalty and it was one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen which changed the whole course of the game.
“I don’t remember the FAI after the game saying we should give them a replay.”
Keane continued his tirade by pinpointing FAI chief Delaney as being a figure who deserves contempt.
The Ipswich boss fell out with Delaney after he decided to quit Ireland’s World Cup campaign in 2002 following a bust-up with then manager Mick McCarthy.
“John Delaney? He’s on about honesty and integrity. I wouldn’t take any notice of that man.
“People forget the last time I was at the World Cup in 2002. People seem to forget what was going on at that World Cup. I was one of the players, he didn’t have the courtesy to ring me. He got interviewed and all he said was ‘I don’t know where he is’.
“I’d been with Ireland since I was 15 years of age and that man didn’t even have the decency to ring me. He could have phoned me, tried the hotel room.
“And he’s on about the honesty of the game.”
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