Former Man United captain Roy Keane under investigation for alleged assault

New Delhi: Former Manchester United captain, Roy Keane is under investigation by Irish police after a man was allegedly assaulted at the Republic of Ireland team hotel ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.

The 43-year-old was with the team as an assistant manager at the Links Hotel in Portmarnock. The alleged event occurred on Wednesday evening after the Irish team training. According to media reports, Keane was involved in a “heated exchange” with a man who had asked him to sign a copy of the former Red Devils captain’s book.

Further reports said that the unnamed man was taken to hospital in an ambulance, with a Gardai spokesman confirming that an incident at the hotel is under investigation.

Later, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) released a statement saying Keane himself had called the police after the incident.

The statement reads, “Following inaccurate media reports which refer to an incident involving a member of the public this evening at the Republic of Ireland team hotel, we wish to clarify that Roy Keane called the Gardai following the incident.”

The association also peldged full support to Keane and staff. “The manager, Martin O’Neill and the FAI are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this event and the assistant manager has their full support.”

Keane joined Martin O’Neill as assistant coach in the Republic of Ireland coaching staff in 2013. He made several headlines recently with the release of his autobiography “The Second Half.” In one of the chapters, the famous defensive midfielder claimed that he head-butted former United team-mate Peter Schmeichel at the team hotel during a pre-season tour of Asia.

Ireland will play Scotland in their Euro 2016 qualifier, Group D match at Celtic Park, Glasgow on Thursday.

With agency inputs