England’s top referee Howard Webb has announced his retirement - and not a moment too soon for a lot of football fans.

"A healthy dressing room is worth more than 100 hours of tactics," declared Vicente Del Bosque as he and his team prepared to jet off to Brazil to defend their title.

An explosion at an illegal World Cup viewing site in northeast Nigeria killed at least 14 people while security forces arrested a "terror kingpin" among nearly 500 people detained as suspected terrorists in the southeast of the country.

The Netherlands are more streetwise now than when they tackled Spain in the 2010 World Cup final, according to national captain, Robin van Persie.

World Cup 2014 kicks off in nine days so Ger McCarthy looks at how some of the contenders and outsiders are shaping up ahead of their final friendlies before boarding the plane to Brazil.

Some 60 heads of state or government will take part in the memorial service or state funeral of Nelson Mandela next week.

The anti-apartheid icon attracted stars from all over the world, but cut through all the glitz and glamour with trademark charm and humility, reports Justine Gerardy

South Africans united in mourning for Nelson Mandela yesterday, but while some celebrated his remarkable life with dance and song, others fretted that the anti-apartheid hero’s death would make the nation vulnerable again to racial and social tensions.

President Michael D Higgins will represent Ireland at the State memorial service for Nelson Mandela.

Sebastian Larsson claims Sweden will be able to give Cristiano Ronaldo a rough ride in tonight’s World Cup play-off in Stockholm because English referee Howard Webb will not fall for his “tricks”.

Football often takes itself too seriously, but for once the Champions League has produced two semi-finals that deserve the word historic.

Greg Lalas wrote a powerful piece a few years back in Soccer America about how he took the decision at the age of 24 to leave professional soccer.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez accused referee Howard Webb of inconsistency after seeing his 10 men slip to defeat at Sunderland.

Spain may have wowed the world over the last four years with their stylish passing football, but they would not be defending European, or World Cup, champions without [the interventions of keeper Iker Casillas.

Last Wednesday at Lansdowne Road, Ireland were given another lesson in the dangers of playing possession-based teams.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has extended his contract by another four years and will now guide Oranje through to the 2016 European Championship finals.

Wisla Krakow 1 Fulham 0

UEFA has announced that Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai will officiate the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley tomorrow night.

UEFA have announced that Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai will officiate the Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley on Saturday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has vowed to change the rules to ensure the 2010 World Cup final is not decided by penalties.

THE FNB Stadium is packed to its newly upgraded capacity of 110,000 fans.