Keane: D-day looms on possible disrepute charge
Roy Keane can expect to be hit by a Football Association disrepute charge by the end of the week to add to a possible automatic three-match ban following his red card against Sunderland yesterday.
The Manchester United skipper is set to be charged by the FA following the revelations in his book over the infamous tackle on Manchester City’s Alfie Haaland.
To compound that Keane was sent off at the Stadium of Light for elbowing former Republic of Ireland team-mate Jason McAteer. United may appeal against the decision to send him off.
FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said today: "It is likely that there will be some movement on the first situation [the book], probably by the end of the week.
"But as far as what happened at Sunderland, like any other red card - Shaun Wright-Phillips for example – the FA will do nothing until we have seen the referee’s report on what happened."
If Keane is banned he may well have the hip operation he needs, keeping him out for up to three months.
On ITV‘s The Premiership last night, former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend said he was amazed United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had described the sending-off incident as "innocuous".
He said: "It was a clear red card - you can’t do that."
Fellow panellist Ron Atkinson, the former United boss, added: "Sir Alex will always defend his players in public, but I hope that behind closed doors in front of the rest of the team he gives Keane a dressing down."
