The Republic of Ireland manager, Martin O’Neill, has attempted to draw a line under a row between his assistant, Roy Keane, and the players Jonathan Walters and Harry Arter. O’Neill was speaking at his pre-match press conference in Poland after a WhatsApp recording of the defender Stephen Ward was leaked in which he outlined his understanding of what had happened between the three men during the summer and which was followed by Arter making himself unavailable this month against Wales and Poland. O’Neill said: “First of all, Stephen wasn’t there, he’s just picking up on things, something that we talked about at the beginning of the week. Probably not anything more to really report.

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“I think differences of what was said … a confrontation with Jon and a confrontation with Harry. Jon is fine, absolutely fine. Harry perhaps not so fine. But I said to you before, you’d have to ask if that is the complete reason why Harry is not participating in these games this time.

“But I think you probably know that anyway because Harry has let it be known to a few people anyway, the reasons he has decided not to come.”

Asked if Ward’s version tallied with the one he had been given by Keane, O’Neill replied: “No.”

The manager, sitting alongside midfielder David Meyler, was equally emphatic when asked if Keane’s behaviour was causing a problem with some players.

He said: “I’d have to say absolutely not. First of all – these things are important to say – first of all the incidents took place at the end of May when we were in camp. We are now here four months later.

“It wouldn’t be the first conversation, the first tête-à-tête, certainly it wouldn’t be the first, if I can call it, altercation between players and staff. I’ve had one with the man sitting beside me here two days ago.”