Football
PA sport 9y

Republic of Ireland back Roy Keane after incident at hotel

The Football Association of Ireland has voiced its support for Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane amid allegations that he was involved in an altercation at the team hotel.

Late on Wednesday night, the FAI issued a statement after reports circulated when police were called to the team hotel in Portmarnock earlier in the day.

The statement said: "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.

"The manager, Martin O'Neill, and the FAI are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this event, and the assistant manager has their full support."

A Garda spokesman confirmed that officers had received reports of an incident at a hotel in north Dublin at 3.30 p.m.

An ambulance was also called to the scene, but it is not clear whether someone was assessed at the hotel or required further treatment.

"Gardai are investigating an incident which occurred at a hotel in Portmarnock in the late afternoon," the Gardai spokesman said.

No arrest was made, and the spokesman said no complaint had been made.

The Ireland players are due to fly from Dublin to Glasgow on Thursday afternoon to face Scotland in Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday evening.

Martin O'Neill's men are currently joint top of Group D after taking seven of nine points. He and Keane celebrated a year in charge of the Ireland team earlier this month.

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