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ROY KEANE was last night at the centre of an astonishing storm over a hotel bust-up which ended with a fan being taken to hospital.

Republic of Ireland’s preparations for tomorrow night’s Euro 2016 crunch against Scotland were thrown into chaos after an alleged incident involving boss Martin O’Neill’s right-hand man at the Portmarnock Hotel in North Dublin, near the team’s Malahide training base yesterday.

Eye-witnesses spoke of an angry row breaking out between the Ireland No.2 and the fan, who turned up unannounced looking to have a book signed by Keane.

Subsequently, a scuffle is understood to have taken place and the man involved with Keane, who is due into Glasgow today with the Ireland squad, was taken to hospital by ambulance shortly afterwards.

An eye-witness, who was drinking in the hotel at the time of the situation, claimed to have seen an incident unfold and explained: “One guy was reading Roy’s book and wanted him to sign it.

“I think Roy told him no and then there were words exchanged.

“It all just kicked off from there. There was lots of roaring and shouting after.

“An ambulance was called and your man was taken away. The players were coming in and out of the bar before and then they were called in to a private room.

“Everybody in the bar is talking about it. You don’t see something like that every day.”

Irish police confirmed last night that an incident at the hotel is under investigation, but said a complaint had not been made.

And the FAI jumped to the defence of Keane in a statement issued just before midnight last night.

It read: “Following inaccurate media reports which refer to an incident involving a member of the public this evening at the Republic of Ireland team hotel, we wish to clarify that Roy Keane called the Gardai following the incident.

“The manager, Martin O’Neill and the FAI are fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this event, and the

Assistant Manager has their full support.”

However, the incident has plunged has placed a massive cloud over the Irish squad as they prepare for the qualification showdown against the Scots tomorrow at Celtic Park, where Keane was once a player during the Hoops reign of current national-team manager Gordon Strachan.

Irish sources have intimated the individual involved with Keane was not seriously injured and was expected to leave hospital last night.

The Portmarnock Hotel regularly houses the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of big games, but, when contacted last night, a spokeswoman for the hotel said they had “no comment to make.”

However, Irish social media was bombarded by claims appearing to confirm that Keane was involved in the incident.

The former Republic and Ireland and Manchester United skipper made several headlines recently with the release of his controversial autobiography and, in it, he admits to headbutting former team-mate Peter Schmeichel at the team hotel during a club pre-season tour of Asia.