Keane reveals he flew home mid-tournament after fellow pundits got on his nerves

Roy Keane abandoned his punditry duties at the 2022 Qatar World Cup for four or five days after admitting his fellow analysts were “getting on my nerves”, with Gary Neville revealing the unannounced departure during a podcast discussion about the tournament.

The admission surfaced when Neville interrupted a conversation about Keane’s experience in Qatar to disclose that the former Manchester United captain had quietly slipped away mid-tournament. “Roy went home for four or five days as well actually. Went back,” Neville said, prompting Keane to explain himself.

“I had a break. I needed a break. My tolerance levels [were starting to go]. People getting on my nerves,” Keane said. When co-host Micah Richards pressed him to name those responsible, Keane declined, joking: “How long have we got? How long have we got? Fellow pundits. I had a break.”

Neville was quick to distance himself from the list of irritants. “It wasn’t me though,” he said, adding that he had learned to read the warning signs. “I can see when the tank’s filling up, it’s like one of those challenges in I’m a Celebrity Micah with Roy. You can see when the tank’s coming up to his head. You’ve got to get out of there.”

Keane, now 54, responded with characteristic dry wit: “You’re very cruel.”

The episode offers a candid glimpse into the pressures of spending weeks on the road as part of a large broadcast team. Keane is currently working as a pundit at the 2026 World Cup in North America as part of ITV’s coverage, where he has continued to deliver the blunt assessments that have made him one of the most recognisable voices in the British game. He also remains a regular presence on the Stick to Football podcast alongside Neville, Ian Wright, and Richards.

Keane’s reputation for low tolerance of those around him stretches back to his playing days, most notably his explosive falling-out with Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup, which resulted in him leaving the squad before the tournament began.