Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

**MeathDrog** · 06/06/2016, 1:09 PM

Total overreaction both by The Times and on here.

**paul_oshea** · 06/06/2016, 1:24 PM

MeathDrog i am far from one to take the moral high ground or be self-righeous like most of the regulars on here. I laughed at most things everyone else laughs at, but when you alienate a certain section of "your" public with these kinda jokes then

I hold my hand up and say I have definitely laughed at some stage at jokes like that, and then thought about it afterwards, hence why i say he feels at home with the audience, but I was amongst a few people, who were all minding their own business and not hurting anyone directly. Martin is in the public eye, and whether you or I agree with what he said or not, it will have upset some people.

And I dont think there is an over-reaction on here. TCM has a reason to feel agrieved, and its been pointed out by a few, hasn't been overblown. But perhaps its time to move on.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/06/2016, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

i dont know why you are expecting an apology, he hasnt even thought about the comment himself, because to him there probably wasn't anything wrong with it.

and i would say most have moved on. I was told everyone at the event found it funny, or at least those who didnt stayed silent.

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

**Stuttgart88** · 06/06/2016, 1:32 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

i am far from one to take the moral high ground or be self-righeous like most of the regulars on here.

Says Paul self-righteously.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/06/2016, 1:38 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

The Sunday Times reported it, balls just parroted it

**paul_oshea** · 06/06/2016, 1:58 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Today FM cut it from their broadcast and Balls.ie reported that "it appears his quip on Wednesday had no one laughing, especially Matt Cooper who apparently quickly moved on to the next subject".

Well I got it from two different lads at it, said people were laughing and found it funny, but some a bit uncomfortably.

**Stuttgart88** · 06/06/2016, 3:46 PM

O'Neill apologises according to Dion Fanning on Twitter

**DeLorean** · 06/06/2016, 4:10 PM

Strange apology...

Originally Posted by Martin O'Neill

Yes I was going to address this, if I have made inappropriate comments in the Opera House in Cork on Wednesday evening. I obviously apologise for it and I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments.

Come on Martin, there is no 'if'. I'm going to assume that just his way of wording it though without meaning it too literally. Anyway, apology made, I agree we should/can just move on now.

**paul_oshea** · 06/06/2016, 4:16 PM

I knew he didn't realise, as i said above, and I also knew that he wouldn't take too kindly to this. This is just another nail in the already mentioned trust coffin by kimmage. He sees this as another reason to be closed, and probably wont appear in public at these Q&As again.

"For the rest of my time here"...

But lets move on.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/06/2016, 4:17 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

The Sunday Times reported it, balls just parroted it

Indeed! Sorry, my bad.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/06/2016, 4:28 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I knew he didn't realise, as i said above, and I also knew that he wouldn't take too kindly to this. This is just another nail in the already mentioned trust coffin by kimmage. He sees this as another reason to be closed, and probably wont appear in public at these Q&As again.

I dunno. The media have been exceptionally quiet on this. It happened last Wednesday and we only really started hearing murmurs yesterday, if I'm not mistaken. It's the sort of thing that could brew up a storm in the UK or if he was the adversary or political opponent of someone with power in the media. I'm a fan of Martin and I'm still a fan, but he's better than this. You can still be a fan but take issue with something he says. As I said, I don't think he's actually homophobic, but he's a public representative/ambassador for Irish football. He's a public face, or a voice even. I think it's important that Irish football shows that homophobic sentiment isn't a laugh and a joke. It's for our own betterment as a footballing fraternity - indeed, as a country - and it's also important insofar as our international standing and relations are concerned. Anyway, his apology - albeit qualified (using "if" in an apology so often undermines it) - is welcome as he at least acknowledges the comment wasn't appropriate.

**Charlie Darwin** · 06/06/2016, 5:01 PM

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

O'Neill is gone down in my estimation to be honest

Me too. He's back to Martin O Neil for me now.

**SkStu** · 06/06/2016, 5:37 PM

"Martin O'Neill to apologised gays"

**Stuttgart88** · 06/06/2016, 9:41 PM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

Strange apology...

Come on Martin, there is no 'if'. I'm going to assume that just his way of wording it though without meaning it too literally. Anyway, apology made, I agree we should/can just move on now.

You're right, there is no if, but I believe it's a genuine apology badly worded. In words there's not much between saying sorry for offending anyone and saying sorry if I offended anyone. In semantics there's a big difference.

**DeLorean** · 06/06/2016, 10:02 PM

I think the same more or less but, Jesus, how hard is it to get the wording right? I think he might have been playing the whole "I didn't realise it was inappropriate when I said it but accept it must have been" card, as in, playing a little bit dumb. I just saw the apology on Sky Sports News though, he looked pretty uncomfortable but did add that he "genuinely apologises" again, after the sentence about trying not to make inappropriate comments again, which hasn't been reported in any of the quotes I've seen. I think that's a little unfortunate because it gave the apology a bit more substance I thought.

**DannyInvincible** · 06/06/2016, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by MeathDrog

Total overreaction both by The Times and on here.

Not just Emmet Malone and on here though, in fairness. The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network and prominent gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell also took issue with the comment and sought a retraction/apology.

Emmet Malone also tweeted earlier that the apology seemed very sincere and Martin was genuinely embarrassed with further quotes to be published tomorrow.

**tricky_colour** · 07/06/2016, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by thischarmingman

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...eers-1.2673651

Well... at least he didn't say faggots!!!

What is wrong with the word queers?

**Charlie Darwin** · 07/06/2016, 12:48 AM

Oh tricky

**TrapAPony** · 07/06/2016, 12:50 AM

The likes of David McSavage says it regularly on RTE in his skit as Mick The Bull, people know exactly what he is referring to and there is nothing said. All the PC lads should really get a grip. Nothing can be said nowadays without someone taking offence over this, that or the other. The world has gone to hell.

**Charlie Darwin** · 07/06/2016, 12:55 AM

I don't know about David McSavage because I can't stand him, but quare has always had a different meaning to the slur 'queer,' even if they do come from the same word. Same as 'cute hoor' has a completely different meaning to a prostitute. Everybody knows that quare doesn't refer to gay people, whereas MON was unambiguous in what he said.