CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Keane's controversial goal celebration in the LA Galaxy's season-opening victory last week over the Chicago Fire was all about “passion” and tying to spark his teammates, the Irish striker said Thursday in his first media availability since the incident.
LA's captain was fined for unprofessional conduct, the league announced Thursday, after punctuating his 81st-minute goal in the Galaxy's 2-0 triumph with a derogatory “up-yours” gesture that appeared to be accompanied by an expletive.
Keane, who said he'd expected to be fined, was criticized for the celebration, and some thought he was motioning toward Galaxy fans with the forearm-jerk gesture.
“Who said that?” Keane said when asked about it following LA's training session at StubHub Center in advance of Sunday's game at Portland. “A million percent, it wasn't at the fans. So whoever said that, you can't speculate on something you don't know. It's not a big deal. It's nothing. It's passion.”
Keane, who won MLS's MVP award last season, is among MLS's most fiery competitors, and he can be something of a conductor on the field, often motioning to teammates – in frustration, when warranted.
The captain's goal capped an often frustrating game for the Galaxy, and he was noticeably agitated on several occasions, most notably moments before he scored, when he kicked the left post after Stefan Ishizaki shot wide rather than pass to him a few yards deeper in the box.
His display Friday night drew stark criticism from Diego Balado and former MLS and US national team star Marcelo Balboa, the commentators on UniMas's telecast of the game. Both said Keane should not continue as the Galaxy's captain, citing foremost his attitude toward players on the field.
Keane laughed when he heard about it.
“Who are them guys?” he said. He was told their names, then added: “That's good. Next time they ask me to speak, we'll see.”
Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said he hadn't seen Keane's celebration, had not yet watched tape of the game, and that he didn't “really care” about the situation.
“He'll be captain on Sunday,” Arena said. “You can let [UniMas] know that.”
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Keane says he's animated on the field because he cares so much and is “just trying to get the best out of players, so there's a bit of madness to the things I do.”
“I've got passion. I've got passion,” he said. “I want to win all the times. I want things to be better. I do a lot of things sometimes to get everybody going in a different way. That's my way of doing things. I do it on the training field, I do it on the field. I'll always continue to do that.
“There's other things you probably won't see that I do all the time. Sometimes it's to get people going. Get a reaction from other people. It's about caring what you do.”
Keane said the MLS fine was “no problem” and that he “didn't even think to complain about it.”
“I know why I did it,” he said. “I know it's going to get a reaction from everybody else, and if it's going to make us a better team, my job is done.”
