Martin O'Neill took the opportunity afforded by today's press conference to apologise for his use of the word 'queers' in an interview with Matt Cooper in the Cork Opera House last week.
O'Neill dropped in the word in response to a question about his and Keane's jaunt to the Super Bowl in California earlier this year, during which O'Neill popped up briefly on the BBC panel. Distressingly, Roy didn't join the panel and talk some Gridiron himself. We presume the BBC asked him to come on or else someone should answer for that failing.
While talking about the trip, O'Neill added swiftly that two Steves, Guppy and Walford, also headed out with them, confirming that neither he nor Keane were 'queers'.
The bulk of online opinion - meaning close to 100% - subscribed to the 'political correctness gone mad' viewpoint on this matter and angrily admonished media outlets for reporting it.
But it would seem that the social justice minded commentators elsewhere who criticised O'Neill have greater moral authority on these matters and O'Neill offered up an apology at the Ireland management press conference today.
Yes, I was going to address this, if I have made inappropriate comments in the Opera House in Cork on Wednesday evening, I obviously apologise for it and I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments.
Presumably, that'll be the end of it though O'Neill's vow to avoid inappropriate comments seems a bit fanciful considering his sense of humour. He had only just gotten over 'ugly WAG' gate a couple of months previously.
Elsewhere, he confirmed that Jon Walters' fitness is improving but that he won't train tomorrow. Robbie Keane's fitness is improving.
