We all rally round

We all rally round.” United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has now accepted that Keane deserved to be sent off. After the match he had described Keane’s actions as “innocuous” and accused McAteer of play-acting. But yesterday he said: “We won’t appeal, the referee had no choice but to send him off. The replay I was shown immediately after the match was misleading. When I saw the TV pictures from a different angle, I saw the referee had no choice.”Keane will be available for tonight’s home game against Middlesbrough, where Sir Alex is likely to give Paul Tierney, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, his debut if the French defender Micka?Silvestre fails to overcome a neck injuryThe controversy surrounding Keane’s autobiography continued yesterday when the Belfast club Linfield threatened to sue the Manchester United captain.Linfield officials object to allegations made in Keane’s book which they claim are “disgraceful”. Referring to the atmosphere at Linfield’s Windsor Park home before a 1993 World Cup qualifier between the North and the Republic, Keane wrote: “Linfield was a Protestant club.

For the first time in its history Linfield had recently signed a Catholic, a decision that caused great controversy. The player, who was also black, another major problem for Linfield’s bigoted supporters, didn’t last long (nor did the manager who signed him).”The Linfield chairman, Billy McCoubrey, said the club’s legal advisers would decide whether to take further action “It is a disgrace,” he said. “Linfield Football Club has had Catholic players since the post-war era, including some famous internationals. Roy Coyle was the manager who signed two black players and he left the club of his own accord after 13 years.”One of the black players, Tony Coly, is still a hero among the Linfield support for the outstanding service he gave the club ­ and he was signed five years before the international Keane is talking about. I don’t know where this misinformation is coming from but it is nonsense.”.

Laurent Charvet and Christian N?uai may have played their last games for Manchester City after falling out with the manager Kevin Keegan. Charvet faces exile because he refused to go home before the transfer deadline to sign for Lorient. The French defender, whose former clubs include Chelsea and Newcastle, decided he would stay rather than take a pay cut to join the French side, who were relegated from the French First Division last season. The midfielder ignored club advice and tried to overcome the ligament problem in his own way.