REPUBLIC of Ireland football manager Martin O'Neill has apologised after comments he made about himself and assistant manager Roy Keane at an event last week.
The 64-year-old Co Derry man was asked by a reporter at the Cork Opera House about attending the Superbowl with Keane earlier this year and whether they had enjoyed themselves.
O'Neill responded that he and Keane were not "queer" and had been accompanied to the sporting event by other members of the Ireland coaching team, Steve Guppy and Steve Walford.
The comment was not recorded but was made in front of a crowd of nearly 1000 people.
When asked about the remark at a press conference at the FAI's Abbotstown HQ, O'Neill said his comment had been "inappropriate".
"Yes, I was going to address this," he said.
Assistant manager Roy Keane has also got in hot water in the run up to this summer's Euro's [Picture: Getty]"And I will attempt for the rest of my time here not to make such inappropriate comments.
"But it is a genuine apology."
The apology comes after Keane said he wanted to "kill" some of the Irish players following their friendly defeat to Belarus, with winger Aiden McGeady coming in for particular criticism.
O'Neill said that Keane has since apologised to McGeady, after suggesting his underwhelming performance during the friendly was the "story of his career."
Earlier this year, O'Neill made another gaff when he joked that "really attractive" wives and girlfriends of players would be welcome to stay in the team hotel during this summer's Euros while the "uglier" ones would have to stay at home.
Euro 2016 kicks off on June 10 and Ireland's first match is against Sweden on June 13 at 17.00.
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