The film 'Saipan' is now available for streaming on Prime Video. It is based on real-life events involving Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy during Ireland's 2002 FIFA World Cup preparations in Saipan, and has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Steve Coogan plays Mick McCarthy and Eanna Hardwicke plays Roy Keane in the film.
Roy Keane left Ireland's 2002 World Cup campaign early after a dispute with Mick McCarthy, citing poor training facilities, travel arrangements, and logistics as reasons for his frustration during the preparations. Mick McCarthy attended an event in Dublin where he criticized the film. He also called Roy Keane a derogatory term at an event hosted by The Sun.
My family and I all went to look at it, and it's a heap of s*** to be fair, and my concern is, he's about 5ft 8in, Steve Coogan, and in the film Roy towers above him, for f***'s sake. It depicts me as an easy-going, northern numpty who was there for a f****** good time and not to win, and I wasn't competitive.
The film's release has sparked renewed attention to the historical rift, though the accuracy of its portrayal compared to verified accounts remains unclear, and public reception beyond the Rotten Tomatoes rating has not been widely documented. The specific criticisms from other subjects like Keane about the film are unknown, as are any legal responses from the Football Association of Ireland or the film's impact on the ongoing feud.
You know, he's a fabulous player, great captain, captain of his club and everywhere he's been and what he's done is fantastic. I said, 'great goalscorer' – and everybody's looking at me – and I said: 'I'm talking about [old Ireland team-mate] Robbie [Keane], not that other c**'.
It's not right? 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.
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. Like every other footballer. Maybe I should just be OK with it, but enough is enough. I'm banging my head against a brick wall regarding certain issues about this trip.