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Mark Donlon

Joe Brolly tears into Roy Keane over 'hypocritical' World Cup comments on Qatar

Former RTÉ GAA pundit Joe Brolly has taken a swipe at Roy Keane over 'hypocritical' comments made by the ex-Republic of Ireland international at the World Cup.

Keane is in the Middle East for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and is working as a pundit on ITV's coverage of the tournament.

Given the huge question marks over the country's human rights record and its conflict with the LGBTQ+ community, questions on the hosting of the World Cup in Qatar have been put to many of the TV pundits posted there to work on the controversial tournament.

And Keane was offered a chance to give his opinion as ITV broadcast Argentina against Saudi Arabia, a match in which Argentina were stunned by a 2-1 loss.

Keane said: "The World Cup shouldn't be here.

"The corruption regarding Fifa, the country and the way they treat migrant workers, gay people - I think it's great that it's being brought up - they shouldn't have the World Cup here, you can't treat people like that.

"We all love football we're on about spreading the game, but to dismiss human rights flippantly because of a football tournament is not right - it shouldn't be here."

The clip was shared widely on social media before barrister and former RTÉ GAA pundit Joe Brolly took to Twitter to criticise Keane for his comments.

He said: "People fawning over Roy Keane.

"“The World Cup shouldn’t be here” he says, yet there he is, in person, at the World Cup.

"Soccer’s very own Nelson Mandela."

The debate raged in the comment section beneath his tweet and when one user defended Keane as simply doing his job, the Derry man doubled down and pointed out that the he had a choice on whether to be in Qatar or not.

"He is invited there as a freelance pundit.

"Entirely his choice whether to go or not."

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