Amid the reflections and memories on the 20th anniversary, The42 asked 10 Irish footballers born around that time what the controversy means to them.

If everything had gone to plan, the 2002 World Cup would have been the crowning moment of Roy Keane’s career. Instead he came home before the tournament began and the inquest lasted for months.

The Ireland manager was in conversation with Eamon Dunphy for Paddy Power’s Head2Head programme.

Mick McCarthy’s appointment as Ireland manager was confirmed on Sunday.

The subject was brought up for the umpteenth time at the new Irish manager’s unveiling on Sunday.

And the former Ireland boss admits he knew the Saipan pitch was ‘shite’.

Influencers, take note.

The 2002 row is back on the front pages – but how do you feel about it now?

Roy Keane has revisited the infamous Saipan controversy 16 years on.

Damien Duff has suggested Ireland were not necessarily worse off without their inspirational captain at the 2002 World Cup.

The pair famously traded barbs in their autobiographies.

This week marks the anniversary of the time when Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy fell out ahead of the 2002 World Cup.

The Irish pundit compared the issue to the current debate on Raheem Sterling and England.

Plus we had news of starting line-ups from Chaco, Cavan and lots of places in between.

Yes, it features the ‘S’ word, but there were good times too.

An unfortunate own goal and a penalty from the former Irish midfielder did for hosts Bray Wanderers.

Also featuring Bill Simmons’ take on the Donald Sterling controversy and Alex Gibney’s analysis the Loughinisland tragedy.

We doubt Roy will be too keen on it.

Keane’s eyes were far from the ‘wee black beads’ of Alex Ferguson’s description as he sets sights on qualification.

The FAI chief appeared on the Late Late Show to discuss the move for Keane and Martin O’Neill.

Niall Quinn speaks about finally putting the Saipan nightmare to rest and how he forged a new beginning with Roy Keane at Sunderland.

“He decided what he wanted to do was the right thing,” said the former Irish international. “He’s got to live with that.”

It’s ten years to the day since Roy Keane was sent home from the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup training camp.

The FAI chief claims that Roy Keane’s jibes are self-serving and the former captain would be better off if he just ‘let it go.’

The ex-Ireland international also advocated the selection of James McClean for Trap’s Euro 2012 squad.

The ex-United star is a complex figure. Paul Fennessy has Roy Keane in the psychiatrist’s chair.

In the wake of the Tevez-Mancini affair, we recall seven other notorious moments involving sports teams’ in-fights.

It’s America’s birthday! Or is it? Well, not quite… some facts you might not have known about Independence Day.

The low lying Pacific islands may be swept over as a powerful tsunami hits the region – meanwhile Indonesia is bracing itself, as warnings indicate it will be the first area to be hit after Japan.