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Robbie Keane has hung on to the Tottenham captaincy despite his role in the infamous Christmas party in Dublin - but he could still be on his way out of White Hart Lane next month.
Keane was made team skipper when he rejoined the club from Liverpool in January this year but that status was thought to be under threat after he and 15 other players went against manager Harry Redknapp's orders to avoid festive celebrations by flying to the Irish capital in secret two weeks ago.
Keane, whose weekly salary of about £70,000 makes him one of the club's top earners alongside Ledley King and Jermain Defoe, managed to avoid losing the captaincy but few would be surprised to see him leave the club for a second time.
Boss Redknapp confirmed last night that Keane was still the captain of the side.
He added: "I have spoken to all the players about it [the Christmas party] and it has been sorted out."
Keane's return to Spurs was initially a success as the Irishman helped Spurs avoid relegation comfortably.
But his form has been patchy this season, with Peter Crouch preferred alongside top scorer Defoe in attack for the recent victories over Manchester City and Blackburn, and Sunderland and Celtic are both thought to be interested in signing the 29-year-old.
Yesterday, the players involved in the jaunt to Dublin held a tense meeting with Redknapp at the club's Chigwell training base.
Rather than being fined, the 16 are thought to have agreed to make a donation to charity, which will go to projects supported by the club's community arm, the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation.
Spurs claim the players will have a say in which charities benefit.
Reader views (8)
Robbie Keane hasnt been the same player since he returned from an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool. In order to obtain a champions league position, it is time to sell him & the following players... Hutton, Bale, Dawson, Jenas, O'Hara, Bentley & Pavyluchenko. Then top class replacements must be brought in. Failing which we will struggle to finish in the top six, with Man City having a new manager & probable new signings & the threat of Liverpool not far behind.
- Roobie Hootspurs, suff london, 23/12/2009 12:47
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well overated player as is john terry
- C May, bromley, 22/12/2009 15:31
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Sad to say but Robbie Keane is definitely not bigger than the Club. Indiscipline is not acceptable in the longer term, same applies to Robinho of Man City. Just look at what happens to the Manager for tolerating his shenanigans. Sell him at the price he can command now, there's always a younger striker Harry can buy that the Club can be proud of. Enough said of some EPL "icons" and the problems they have caused to both Managers and Clubs.
- Rolando, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22/12/2009 13:58
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In? Out? In? Out? Oh well, Christmas soon, then he can shake it all about!
Hard to believe he's a striker who has commanded over £32m in transfer fees in the last 18 months - he's losing value faster than most peoples houses...
- John T, London, 22/12/2009 13:57
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Maybe he is lining up a swap deal for Carlton Cole or Matthew Upson.
- Tony, Wanstead, London, 22/12/2009 11:31
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The players obviously don't respect 'arry boy. Ducking and diving is OK for del-Boy but for a Manager of an allegedly top club? Not good enough.
EDITED by admin @ 11.53 on decemebr 22 2009
Breach of community guidelines
- Gaz, london, 22/12/2009 11:08
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Sell to buy - every football club in the land does it - QED.
- Ted, London, 22/12/2009 10:30
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I can just imagine him, waggling his finger at old Baggy Chops as though he was in the right...
- Stu, Beckton, 22/12/2009 10:28
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