Roy Keane uses Rangers and Celtic example to show 'selfish' problem holding Scottish football back
The Manchester United hero has been talking Rangers and Celtic off the back of Scotland’s World Cup exit.
Roy Keane has used a Rangers and Celtic example to show why Scottish football is struggling to move forward.
The national team have exited the World Cup at the group stage and head coach Steve Clarke has gone off the back of it. There have been criticisms of performances and soul searching has been conducted on what needs to change if displays on the biggest stage are to improve, but Manchester United legend and ex-Celtic player Keane has his views, with selfishness a big part.
Speaking with the likes of former Old Trafford teammate Gary Neville and ex-striker Ian Wright, Keane deployed the Old Firm to show how a one-minded thought can hold the likes of Scotland, Wales and his Republic of Ireland back. He reckons football politics can play a big role on how a nation progresses.
What has Roy Keane said about Rangers and Celtic in Scottish football?
Keane told The Overlap: “Everyone worries about Scottish football, but nobody watches Scottish football, Aberdeen or.... We shouldn’t just be concerned about the team when they are being beaten in the tournament. Whether that’s money, infrastructure, the same with Ireland. I mean the Scottish league, whole structure of it (people from the outside don’t watch it).”
Arsenal legend Wright responded with: “The Scottish Federation need to do more to build that league. They don’t play football there. They (young kids) have nowhere to play football. They have to look back on those things.”
Keane wasn’t done though and deployed his Celtic and Rangers argument to illustrate some of the problems faced. He said: “That’s the SFA. But there will be politics. Celtic and Rangers. Of course, Celtic are only interested in Celtic. Salford (points to Garry Neville) are only interested in Salford. There is a selfish side to sport.
What SFA have said about Steve Clarke’s exit?
“We haven’t brought up Ireland’s problems. Wales haven’t qualified. Northern Ireland. All these, like smaller countries, these battles are constant. A lot of it will come down to the dollar. St George’s (England’s national training base). How much was St George’s then? Where do you think these countries are going to find, when they all have real issues going on, £100-200 million?”
SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell said of Clarke’s exit: “While we are all disappointed to have exited the World Cup at the group stage, we must not lose sight of the undeniable progress made during Steve’s seven years in charge. From starting as a pot four team in 2019 to topping our World Cup qualifying group, he has more than delivered on the remit to take Scotland back to a major tournament.
“We thank Steve for his record-breaking contribution and know that when the disappointment of World Cup elimination subsides, the Scotland supporters will be thankful for the memories of marching with pride at major tournaments once again. Finally, on behalf of the board of the Scottish FA I would like to make special mention to our incredible supporters. The many thousands who have travelled to the United States to celebrate the return to a World Cup - making a significant financial commitment to do so - have once again shown themselves to be exceptional ambassadors for our country and our national game.”