Another week, another Roy Keane 'altercation', 'incident', 'end of the world example of road-rage'. Okay, it's unlikely that anyone went that far but you get the point. It's something else that Martin O'Neill has to answer questions about.
O'Neill was speaking at an FAI event today to mark the launch of a sponsorship deal with Spar but once again it is incidents away from football that are taking up more of the Ireland manager's time than he would like.
Asked for his take on Keane's latest incident in which a taxi driver called police following an alleged row in Altrincham on Friday morning, O'Neill, for the first time, seemed to admit that the extraneous baggage that has accompanied Keane does have negative effects.
I can't say it doesn't bother me. Of course it might be a concern but I've spoken to Roy about it.
Although O'Neill went on to suggest what many of us are assuming, that all this is probably a lot of hot air, it does mark something of a departure from his previous statements that Keane's persona and everything that comes with would in no way affect the dynamic within the Irish set-up.
The phrase mountain out of a molehill comes to mind. I am prepared to listen to what Roy has said about the incident. When the full information comes out, I think we will see how the story has been exaggerated.
He then returned to his previous assertions that everything in the Ireland set-up is running smoothly, regardless of what happens with Keane away from the Ireland camp.
I genuinely don't have a problem with the news that came out on Friday. As long as he is good for Ireland, which he has been, then I am very happy.
He ended the exchange by joking (probably) that he would bet this won't be the last altercation that Keane is involved in and he is expecting another by next weekend. Good to know.
