Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain, has called for calm within the stands at tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier between Scotland and Ireland at Celtic Park amid fears sparked by his own national association of crowd trouble
Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain, has called for calm within the stands at tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier between Scotland and Ireland at Celtic Park amid fears sparked by his own national association of crowd trouble
The striker accepts that there will be a number of visiting supporters scattered around the ground as a result of the away support having received only 3200 tickets and has heard his own associaition's chief executive, John Delaney, state that there will be "tension in the air" as a result of rival fans rubbing shoulders.
Keane is confident his own side's followers will behave themselves and, bearing in mind the backdrop of Scots-born Aiden McGeady appearing certain to be barracked remorselessly by the Tartan Army, concedes everyone on both sides is praying that the event passes peacefully.
"I would imagine there will be a lot of Irish supporters around the stadium," said the LA Galaxy striker. "There is no question about that.
"We just hope that there is no trouble and everyone behaves themselves.
"The Irish fans, over the years, have always been fantastic and I am sure that will be no different."
Keane's remarks came after his manager, Martin O'Neill, insisted that his squad's equilibrium has not been disrupted by the fall-out from an alleged incident involving Roy Keane and a supporter at the team's hotel in Portmarnock on Wednesday afternoon.
O'Neill's assistant is being investigated by Irish police in the wake of allegations of an assault on a man at the hotel used by the team before travelling to Glasgow. Keane is reported to have been involved in an exchange with someone who asked him to sign a copy of his recent autobiography.
The individual was reportedly taken to hospital with Keane calling in the police.
O'Neill issued a statement on the Football Association of Ireland's website yesterday morning to state that Keane has his "full support"
and stated at a press conference at Celtic Park last night that his preparations have not been damaged by the controversy.
"It's only a distraction," he said. "That's all it was. I made a statement earlier on. I've hardly seen it myself. There is not really much I can talk about, but I think we're fine, I think the players are fine, I think the man in question is fine and we're ready to go.
"He (Keane) is OK. He's actually here with us."
O'Neill also stated that Keane saw no need to speak to the players about what had happened.
"Why would he do that?" said O'Neill. "He spoke to me. I don't think Robbie (Keane), as captain, was particularly interested in what happened.
"The incident is over. That's it. You mentioned it being a distraction and that's really it."
Keane, meanwhile, has insisted McGeady, like most other players of a certain reputation, will gain strength from the welcome reserved for him tonight.
"That has been in the case in my experience anyway," he said.
"Knowing Aiden as I do, I don't think it will affect him. I am sure he will rise to the occasion the way he has done in the last few games.
"Aiden was here for a few years with Celtic and was a great player for them, so I know he is excited to come back. I am sure the crowd are going to boo him, but I don't think that or the things people say is going to affect him. I am sure he will enjoy it."
O'Neill realises the atmosphere is likely to be white-hot within the walls of his former place of employment, though, and has warned his players not to become consumed by its intensity when the action begins.
"It is very much a case of having some discipline about ourselves because we will have a better chance if we keep the players on the field," he said.
Keane believes he will have an important role to play in dealing with a number of the less experienced men likely to be drafted into O'Neill's starting line-up to compensate for the loss of established figures such as James McCarthy, Marc Wilson and Glenn Whelan.
"You notice yourself if people are getting too excited, but don't forget we have a lot of experienced players who have played a lot of games for their country and at club level," said Keane. "With the atmosphere and the importance of this game along with the rivalry of both teams, it will be up to the senior players to get round the others and make sure they do not get too overwhelmed by the situation.
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