Keane dismissal no good to Delap

If only Roy Keane had his squabble with Mick McCarthy a week ago. Regardless of who's right or wrong or who's go the biggest ego, the result is that the Republic of Ireland will be a man short for the tournament. Of the people who could have taken Keane's place, Rory Delap would have been a strong favorite.

Delap had an excellent late run of form last season, but Mick McCarthy decided to stick with the players who had got the country through the most qualifiers.

While there's nothing in the FIFA rules about players going home in the huff, they do state that no replacements can be called up except in the case of serious injury.

My sympathies lie not only with Delap but with the ROI whose World Cup hopes have been cast into doubt because of the immaturity of two individuals.