2 days ago
FIFA Museum exhibit's accidental nod to Roy Keane's Saipan World Cup walkout
Roy Keane's infamous World Cup departure in 2002 has been inadvertently immortalised in an exhibit in the FIFA Museum in Zurich.
Keane's decision to leave the camp after a row with then-manager Mick McCarthy over the quality of Ireland's preparations in Saipan split the country in two and even had Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attempting to broker peace.
Ireland went on to reach the last-16, where they lost on penalties to Spain, after draws with Cameroon, Germany and a win over Saudi Arabia in the group stages.
Eagle-eyed and knowledgeable visitors to FIFA's state of the art museum in the Swiss capital will be reminded of Keane's walkout when they pass through the impressive FIFA World Cup Gallery part of the tour.
The controversy itself doesn't get a mention, but there is an accidental nod to the Corkman's exit in an exhibit that displays the jerseys of every nation that has qualified for the finals.
Ireland's 2002 World Cup jersey is on show with the number 6 printed between the FAI crest and the Umbro logo.
Keane, of course, was listed in FIFA's official squad list as the Boys in Green's number 6 for that tournament, despite his decision to depart ahead of the tournament.
While he was back at home in Manchester during the World Cup, he was technically still a member of McCarthy's squad.
The FIFA Museum offers a comprehensive look at every World Cup - both men's and women's, with both trophies on display and memorabilia from each tournament.
The late Toto Schilachi's Golden Ball award features in the Italia '90 exhibit. The Italy forward scored the goal that broke Irish hearts at the quarter-final stage of their debut appearance at a World Cup.
A video of David O'Leary's winning penalty against Romania in the last-16 that year, and Robbie Keane's last-gasp equaliser against Germany in 2002, can be watched on an interactive map of every FIFA member country.
