Roy Keane went home from World Cup because ‘other pundits got on my nerves’

Roy Keane returned home during the World Cup because his fellow pundits “get on my nerves”.

The outspoken Keane, who has been working for ITV during the tournament alongside the likes of Graeme Souness, Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Joe Cole, said he flew back from Qatar after his “tolerance levels” reached breaking point.

Discussing his World Cup experience with Neville and Micah Richards for Sky Bet, Keane said it had been, “Okay”.

Neville then revealed: “To be fair, Roy went home for four or five days as well actually. He went back.”

Keane responded: “I had a break. I needed a break, just my tolerance levels. Yeah, people get on my nerves.”

Asked by Richards to name names, Keane replied: “How long have we got? Fellow pundits.”

Neville added: “I can see when the tank’s filling up. It’s like one of those challenges on I’m A Celebrity with Roy: you know when you can see the tank is rising until you have to get out of there.”

Keane’s World Cup has already featured an on-air row with Souness over the award of a penalty to Argentina during their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia.

When Souness proclaimed it the correct decision, Keane retorted: “No, no, no. All this will do is encourage diving.”

After Keane sought to defend his right to his opinion, Souness said: “Roy this isn’t about us offering our opinions, it’s about the Laws of the game.”

Keane replied: “Well, what are we here for? I’m here to give my opinion. That’s not a penalty.”

As the bickering continued along the same lines, Souness snapped: “I’ve listened to you say that 10 times; do you want to say it again?”

Keane: “I don’t think it’s a penalty…” Souness: “Well, let someone else speak.” Keane: “Go ahead.” Souness: “You will learn a lot more if you listen rather than talk all the (appears to stop himself saying f------) time.” Keane: “There is plenty of air time, no problem, go ahead.”

Former Manchester United captain Keane was famously sent home from the 2002 World Cup by the Republic of Ireland following a major bust-up with manager Mick McCarthy.