Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has threatened to quit if his position is undermined as a result of the Roy Keane affair.
McCarthy took a hard line with his captain after the Manchester United midfielder criticised the squad's preparations and then launched an astonishing verbal attack on his international boss.
Keane was sent home with his Republic of Ireland career seemingly over and in the ensuing furore McCarthy has already turned down requests from FAI officials and even the Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern to reconsider his decision.
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And McCarthy insists he does not want Ireland's World Cup to be judged solely on the Keane affair.
"I will not be reporting to the FAI on this issue and I don't see any reason why I should," said McCarthy.
"I am in charge of team affairs and I expect the FAI to back me. They have done so in this instance but if there is ever the slightest hint that I am not in charge of what happens to this team, then I will be gone.
"I am aware that this is the big story going into the World Cup finals but Roy is gone now and he will have no affect on how we do in Japan.
Earlier McCarthy described Roy Keane's attitude in his tirade against him as "obnoxious, degrading to me and downright rude." "There was no dignity and precious little respect in his choice of language. I have never witnessed such an attack from any human being.
"It was vicious and it was unjust. I looked at him as he waded in with one expletive after another and I asked myself if this was my captain; if this was one of my players.
McCarthy, who has two years to run on his contract, has already received a vote of support from FAI president Milo Corcoran and general secretary Brendan Menton.
Menton, who arrived in Japan on Friday with ideas that he could patch up the row, is also behind the manager.
"I have spoken to Mick and the players and I am 100% happy that he did the right thing. I fully support his actions and there is no way back for Roy now," he said.
PA