Martin O'Neill has said that Stephen Ward was not there during the Roy Keane row with Jonathan Walters and Harry Arter, and has insisted that there is "absolutely not" a problem between the players and Keane.
During his pre-Poland match press conference, O'Neill gave more details from his side as to the circumstances surrounding the incidents between the trio, and a recent voice message from a member of the Republic's camp.
"First of all, I don't think that Stephen [Ward] was there. Stephen wasn't actually there. He was just picking up on things; something that we talked about at the beginning of the week. Probably not anything more really to report."
As to the fallout from the altercation between Keane and the pair:
"Jon [Walters] is fine. Harry is perhaps not so fine. But I said to you before, you would have to ask whether that is the complete reason why Harry is not participating in these games this time. I think you probably know that anyway, because Harry has let that be known to a few people anyway, on the reasons that he has decided not to come."
On whether the version the version that has come to light via a camp source tallied with what he was told by Roy Keane, O'Neill said it did not, but was not in the mood to elaborate.
But he was bullish that Roy Keane had no problems with some of the players in the setup.
"I would have to say, absolutely not," said O'Neill, pressed as to whether there was a problem between Keane and some of the playing squad.
"First of all - and I think that these are important to stay - the incidents happened at the end of May when we were in camp. So they have surfaced now, some four months later. It wouldn't be the first conversation, tête-à-tête and, if I can call it, altercation between players and staff."
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