In the modern world of raw-knuckled competition between nations, we should be grateful for the fact that football is war by other means.
Sadly yesterday in Saipan, the nuclear option was exercised. The result is that for Irish fans at least, the imminent World Cup competition in Japan and Korea will be less exciting than was anticipated due to the absence of their captain.
Roy Keane is without qualification one of the most outstanding footballers of his generation, perhaps any generation. He is an inspirational player and captain - both of Ireland, until yesterday, and of Manchester United - with an apparently unquenchable determination to play hard and to win. Respect is a word that crops up again and again when Keane's colleagues and opponents speak of him, usually in admiring terms. Respect, not necessarily affection. But Keane has never given the impression that he wants to lead to be liked: he wants to lead to win. That professionalism, diamond-edged determination and pursuit of excellence was laced throughout his interview with Tom Humphries in this newspaper yesterday.
Keane's criticisms of the preparations leading to Ireland's first World Cup encounter (in just eight day's time against Cameroon) and of the training facilities in Saipan may be justified, or they may not. Being used to Manchester United facilities, he is certainly used to the best. The Football Association of Ireland has responded by saying that funds for facilities and equipment in the run-up to the World Cup were not lacking and that Keane's criticisms of a similar nature in the past were addressed. Clearly, he disagrees.
As team captain, Keane not only had a right to speak his mind on this occasion, he had a duty to do so in the wider interests of the rest of the Irish squad. At Manchester United, his comments have frequently been barbed. Jibes attacking his employers for their perceived greater interest in prawn sandwich-style corporate hospitality over the game of football are tolerated in recognition of Keane's genius on the field. It is to be regretted that whatever the merits of Keane's criticisms in Saipan, neither he nor Mick McCarthy were able to prevent their differences from erupting into a verbal brawl from which there could only be one winner - the manager.
The Irish team carries with it the enormous hopes of Irish supporters - and very many more people less devoted to the game week by week, but who are happily swept up in World Cup fever. Because of his great stature and reputation, those hopes were all the higher with Roy Keane as captain. But now he's gone and the row that led to his departure should be left in Saipan. There are eight days' preparation left. The squad must put all this behind them, concentrate on beating Cameroon (or at least securing a draw) and set a better example to the thousands of young people for whom football players are the ultimate heros.
Roy Keane is returning to Manchester United, to the stadium christened the Theatre of Dreams by Bobby Charlton. In the World Cup, meanwhile, Irish dreams live on.