FAI begins probe into Keane row

Roy Keane has been handed an open invitation to renew his attacks on Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

The former Ireland captain will be asked to co-operate with a full-scale inquiry prompted by his Saipan bust-up with McCarthy.

Irish football chiefs have appointed Scottish-based consultants Genesis to sort out the Keane affair that rocked their World Cup campaign.

And Keane's attacks on McCarthy and the Football Association of Ireland, which are repeated in his coming autobiography, are central to the investigation.

FAI general secretary Brendan Menton said: "Roy Keane and all the 23 players who were involved with the World Cup will be asked to cooperate with Genesis as they carry out this review.

"The catalyst for this review was the incident with Roy Keane in Saipan, but we are looking beyond that as well.

"The objective of this is to come up with positive recommendations. If the recommendations come from criticism from Roy or anyone else then fair enough.

"This review is very important to the FAI and the recommendations will be followed through."

Keane, however, has already said that he will refuse to get involved in any FAI investigation into the incident that saw him expelled by McCarthy after a foul-mouthed verbal spat.