Former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton has launched a stinging attack on Roy Keane after his shock World Cup exit.
Charlton, writing in today's Daily Mirror, threw his weight behind Mick McCarthy after the Irish coach sent Keane home from the World Cup finals following their row.
"The week has been dominated by a certain young man whose name I am not even going to mention," he said, adding that he could not understand anyone siding with the midfielder.
"This person has been at fault in all of this from start to finish, there is no escaping that. Can the people not see that?" he said.
"He had his chance to go back and he didn't do the decent thing. I know I wouldn't have taken him back ... ever.
"I haven't spoken to or heard anyone in England who agreed with his stance on this issue. But in Ireland there's sympathy. It's astonishing."
Charlton added: "If he loved his country as much as he says he does he would have got back on a plane this week, swallowed his pride and got on with it. He still owes the biggest apology."
Charlton took his successor's side by saying of McCarthy: "He has handled this situation very well in my book. I've heard criticism directed at him for calling a team meeting and asking the man concerned to explain the contents of a newspaper article in front of his fellow players.
"Why shouldn't he have done so? This is after all a team and they were entitled to be tuned in to what was happening."
"The sad thing is that Mick will probably come out worst from all of this. But this other man led his country a merry dance all week, teasing them into thinking that he was about to return to the World Cup.
"Mick should ban his name from the Irish camp ahead of tomorrow's game."