00:04In May 2002, Roy Keane was a towering figure in world football.
00:13The Manchester United captain was a serial winner, accustomed to the highest standards.
00:20So when he arrived at the Republic of Ireland's training base ahead of the 2002 World Cup,
00:25he wasn't shy about registering his dissatisfaction.
00:31The base on Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands,
00:36had been selected by the FAI as a location to allow players to recuperate at the end of a busy
00:42club season,
00:42before moving to Japan to finalise World Cup preparations.
00:48But Keane felt disrespected.
00:51He saw Saipan as a junket for Irish administrators,
00:54and the latest in a long line of perceived affronts,
00:58from flying players' economy class to not providing adequate pre-match meals.
01:06Keane's anger was leaked, leading to a confrontation between player and coach Mick McCarthy.
01:12Keane was in no mood to back down.
01:19I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as
01:23a person,
01:24Keane told McCarthy.
01:26The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country.
01:34It was one of the most explosive tirades in football history.
01:37As the story leaks, Keane even invented some new swear words to go into the English language.
01:44McCarthy then held a press conference, announcing that he had sent Keane home.
01:50Ireland's captain and best player would not appear at only the third World Cup in the country's history.
01:56As Mick McCarthy says, I'm going to enjoy it, and we're all going to enjoy it.
02:00Right Keane or no right Keane, it doesn't matter.
02:05Without Keane, Ireland did well to qualify for the knockout phase behind Germany.
02:12Really good stuff. I'd say thank you to all the Japanese people so far.
02:15You're absolutely fantastic.
02:16Very friendly.
02:17Happy days every day, brilliant.
02:18We're only staying for two weeks, you want to stay for two years in Italy.
02:21It's really good.
02:22The World Cup should be held here every month of every year, because it's so brilliant so far.
02:27But they were soon on their way home, following a penalty shootout defeat to Spain in the round of 16.
02:34The FAI commissioned a report into the incident, and the conclusions agreed with many of Keane's criticisms.
02:43The incident was revisited many years later, when Keane was appointed an assistant to new coach Martin O'Neill.
02:51I mean, I know how brilliant he was, and I know how sometimes, how polarized opinions can be with Roy,
03:00but I don't have a problem with that.
03:03Naturally, Keane was often asked about his opinions of the Irish facilities.
03:08Fantastic.
03:09Absolutely brilliant.
03:10Credit to everyone that's set up here, the training pitch, the facilities, the hotel, the location where we are.
03:17We really couldn't ask for any more.
03:19It's been fantastic, and so far the welcome we've had, just even where we're staying.
03:26The staff, the food, the training ground here, it's been fantastic.
03:32Absolutely, we're delighted, and even our own staff in the background, the FAI have done brilliant.
03:38No doubt, lessons have been learned, so it's, honestly, I'm trying to find something that was wrong, maybe.
03:46My bed's a bit too soft, but other than that, it really is.
03:51It's been fantastic, and we're enjoying it.
03:54The 2002 Roy Keane doesn't really match up with what you see on television these days.
03:59It was all a bit of an act, really, or just a part of his competitive fire, maybe, on the
04:04football pitch.
04:05But you see him having a bit of a laugh about some of his past behaviours, and not taking it
04:10all too seriously,
04:11but maybe he just knows what it's all about, and it's football.
04:14In 2005, I, Kino, a musical comedy parodying the incident and its key players, opened in Dublin.
04:23Then in 2024, it was announced a movie of the confrontation was in production.
04:31It all ensures the 2002 World Cup and the island of Saipan live on in football folklore.
04:38It's a little bit of folklore.
Comments