The 36-year-old Irishman, who had more than his fair share of clashes with referees during his illustrious playing career, is a supporter of the drive to eradicate bad behaviour towards the men in black.

However, he is adamant that some of his colleagues need to set a better example as a national debate rumbles on in the wake of incidents involving Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Keane said: "The problem for me when I comment on referees is people say, 'How can you?'.

"But that was as a player - I am a manager now and it does not mean to say I cannot learn from my mistakes.

"There has been so much rubbish spoken in the last week or two. I have spoken to many old players and they used to go out and try to break people's legs.

"Now there is the big issue with the referees and of course, that has to be respected.

"I hear nonsense about how we should look at rugby and rugby league and how they treat officials - listen, I watch rugby league every week and every Friday night, there is a punch-up.

"Lawrence Dallaglio has been suspended this week, an absolutely brilliant rugby player who I have great respect for.

"As I said, I watch rugby league and you are guaranteed a fight every week, so who do we listen to?

"A lot of it will come down to the managers and how the managers behave. You watch a lot of managers - and sometimes it is not the manager, it is their staff, which is worse because the manager is letting the staff carry on that way.

"We have got to be careful who we listen to. There are a lot of hypocrites out there, a lot, a lot of hypocrites in football.

"Managers are coming out and saying we have got to respect the officials, and they are being sent off themselves."

Keane has established a reputation as a strict disciplinarian during his time at the Stadium of Light and while he has had cause to question several decisions this season, has largely done his talking behind closed doors.

But he simply will not accept his players or staff landing themselves in hot water with match officials.

He said: "I focus on the situation at our club, and I have made it very clear to the players - and to the staff, whether it be with the Academy, the reserves or my first team staff - that you have to show the officials respect."

Keane and his players will return to action at home to West Ham on Saturday looking to secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in 126 games, a run which dates back to December 2001 under Peter Reid.

He said: "We know if we want to achieve anything as a football club, then trust me, we need to be consistent.

"Consistency is sometimes just an unbeaten run - that's what got us promoted last year, particularly in the second half of the season.

"But if there was ever a time to go on a consistent run, it would be now.

"But that's unbelievable, that amount of games not to get back-to-back victories, so we will try to put that straight."