Manchester United officials have refused to comment on their decision to censor club captain Roy Keane's remarks about his fellow United players' lamentable performance in the 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Keane's comments, made to MUTV, the club's own television channel, were recorded at Carrington, the club's training ground, on Monday afternoon. But so explosive were his views on the performance of his team-mates that MUTV officials immediately contacted David Gill - the club's chief executive, who is also chairman of MUTV - and he decided to pull the broadcast.
The fiery Irishman had been interviewed as part of the channel's promotional plan to try to increase the number of subscribers. The channel, owned by United in partnership with Sky and ITV, is just about breaking even, and United players acting as expert pundits are considered an attractive inducement to get new subscribers. The spiking of Keane's broadcast will do little to further this objective.
All United players sign contracts which require them to be interviewed on MUTV.
Keane is known for his forthright comments. Three weeks ago he revealed in an MUTV interview that United had not offered him a new contract - his present deal ends this season - and that he might not be at Old Trafford beyond next summer.