Senator apologises to Robbie Keane for 'false' claims over FAI salary

Fine Gael senator Micheál Carrigy has apologised to Ireland's record goalscorer Robbie Keane for issuing an "inaccurate and false" press release regarding Keane's contract with the FAI.

Former Tottenham, Liverpool and Celtic striker Keane was employed on a four-year contract when Mick McCarthy was hired on a two-year deal as national team manager in 2018, but Keane has not had an official role within the association since April 2020, despite a €250,000 salary.

Last Thursday, Carrigy called for Keane to donate his FAI salary since leaving his assistant coach role to grassroots clubs, describing it incorrectly as "over half a million euro from the taxpayer for very little work".

Today Carrigy retracted that press release and apologised to Keane.

"I've since learned that the information contained in this release was inaccurate and false in a number of respects and was unfair.

"As a result, I have withdrawn the press release and apologise to Robbie for any damage caused."

In 2020 the Government doubled its funding to the FAI to €5.8m to help rescue the association from financial collapse. In 2020 and 2021 the association also received a total of €32m in Covid-relief funding.

Keane is currently coaching voluntarily with Shamrock Rovers.