Eamon Dunphy has hit back at Roy Keane after he claimed that the RTÉ soccer pundit had basically ruined his case for defence during the FA hearing regarding his challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland.
In his new autobiography, Keane writes:
Eamon was my ghost-writer and had come across from Ireland for the hearing to be a witness. He had already said that he’d used his own words to describe the tackle. Before he went in, I’d been going to say to him, ‘Eamon if they ask you if you think I intentionally went to injure Haaland then say no’.
But I decided not to; I wouldn’t embarrass him by saying something as simple as that. Jim Sturman (the lawyer acting on the FA’s behalf) asked him, ‘Mister Dunphy, do you think Mister Keane intentionally went to injure his fellow professional, Mister Haaland?’
And Eamon’s three words back to Sturman were, ‘Without a doubt’. That was my case, my defence, out the window.
While Dunphy was on various radio stations yesterday paying compliments to Keane, on this issue he has literally called bullshit. Dunphy told the Irish Daily Star:
There wasn't the slightest indication that he wasn't happy with my evidence...
One of the things I like about Roy Keane is his distaste for bullshitters. But in this case, Keane is bullshitting. He knows it isn't true.
During the hearing, Dunphy admitted to using artistic licence to write about the tackle in his own words but in today's Star he refutes Keane's claim that he was anxious to clear his reputation:
Far from not wanting to be there I was very anxious to help.
Far from protecting my own reputation, I put my reputation on the line by saying I'd made up copy.
I went to do my stuff for him, big time.
Elsewhere, in his own column, Dunphy has been critical about the media circus that has surrounded Keane this week and will continue to do so until at least Sunday. Dunphy charges Keane with holding double standards, given that this all comes in the middle of an international week:
Think of a scenario where, say Mark Kinsella was Ireland assistant manager.
How do you think Keane would react – as a pundit – if Kinsella released a book in the week that Ireland were playing competitive games?
In such a scenario I think Keane would go apeshit.
I think it's time these two lads got their own TV show.
Also Read: Roy Keane’s Story About Signing Robbie Savage Might Be Our Favourite Yet
Also Read: The One Thing That Shocked Roy Keane After Returning To International Football
