MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United captain Roy Keane was sacked by the club, according to media reports in Ireland.
Earlier, United's website said the controversial 34-year-old midfielder left by mutual consent but Tony O'Donoghue, sports editor for Irish state broadcaster RTE, says he was dismissed.
"Although they are calling it mutual consent, Roy Keane has been sacked," O'Donoghue told RTE's website.
"Clearly Man Utd officials and Alex Ferguson have had enough. The most recent outburst of course came following the 4-1 defeat of Man Utd by Middlesbrough."
O'Donoghue said Keane, who has been out of action since September because of a broken foot, turned up to play in a reserve game on Thursday night and was told there was no place for him in the side and he would have to contact Ferguson.
"As you can imagine Roy was not too pleased with this," said O'Donoghue.
The United manager then told Keane he needed to get his agent involved in the discussions.
According to O'Donoghue, the decision to sack Keane was taken after a meeting on Friday morning between Michael Kennedy, Keane's solicitor, and other United representatives.
- REUTERS
Soccer: Keane 'was sacked by United'
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