Roy Keane has been sent home from the World Cup after his criticism of the Republic of Ireland's preparations.

The Republic and Manchester United skipper pulled out of the squad on Tuesday only to have a change of heart.

But Irish squad officials today called a press conference and the news was made official. Earlier today, Keane announced his retirement from international football after the World Cup -then launched a blistering attack on the Republic's preparations for the finals.

Keane criticised McCarthy's decision to bring his 23-man squad to the Western Pacific island of Saipan to acclimatise ahead of the tournament in Korea and Japan.

The 30-year-old midfielder attacked the 17-hour flight to get to Saipan and blasted the training conditions.

He told The Irish Times: "I spoke to the manager and I'll stick it out till after the World Cup and that will be it for me. Without a doubt."

The firebrand Old Trafford legend confessed he had previously had no intention to quit after the World Cup, but that circumstances had forced his hand.

He added: "I was definitely going to the European Championships in 2004.

"Without a doubt. Maybe no friendly internationals but it gets harder, no matter what you are doing. That's all. I had no intentions of quitting.

"I do love the 90 minutes, it's the rest of the crap. I'm sure the other players love their kids, but I can't worry about the other players. I have to worry about me.

"I travel a lot, I have four kids. I miss them. Everyone is different. All I can do is look after me and my family. The European Championships would have been my swansong. It's just come early."

Keane described his frustration with a number of issues surrounding the World Cup trip, and insisted his gripe with training facilities in Saipan was just "the tip of the iceberg."

He added: "I've come over here to do well and I want people around me to want to do well. If I feel we're not all wanting the same things, there's no point. It's been going on a while.

"It's the whole fact of being away. Maybe I should be okay with it, but enough is enough."

"I'm banging my head against a brick wall regarding certain issues about this trip. From the training facilities to all sorts. This trip is the tip of the iceberg.

"You've seen the training pitch and I'm not being a primadonna. Training pitch, travel arrangements, getting through the bloody airport when we were leaving, it's the combination of things. I would never say 'that's the reason or this is the reason', but enough is enough," Keane added.

Keane was unhappy about the long-haul flight to Saipan, commenting: "It's different if we came here to a top training facility. The hotel is fine, but we've come here to work. You wonder why players get injured? Well, playing on a surface like that.

"I can't imagine any other country, countries in the world who are far worse off than us, playing on something like that. I don't think it's too much to ask, just for a pitch that's even watered. It's so dangerous. It's rock hard.

"One or two of the lads have picked up injuries."