Just weeks ago it seemed that Barcelona were set to do something unique — a ‘double treble’ by retaining the Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey trophies they won last season.

A High Court judge has said it is clear it is not entitled to restrain fair reporting of Dáil utterances; a man has been charged with the murder of young boxer Eamonn Magee Jnr; and a Cork landlord warns about a family who littered his house with dirt and faeces. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

John Giles was another prominent football man attending the launch of the new Sports Medicine Programme at the Beacon Hospital in Dublin, but it was the health of football as a whole that was on the veteran’s mind when he considered how Messi’s magic in the Copa del Rey final had helped redeem a toxic week for the sport.

A Spanish court will rule today whether all football competitions in the country, including Primera Division games, will be played this weekend.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has vowed his team will not be distracted by Pep Guardiola’s return to the Nou Camp as they prepare for tomorrow night’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich.

Barcelona enter their biggest week of the season in optimistic mood.

The La Liga title race’s latest twist has seen Barcelona take over as leaders, amid growing concerns that Real Madrid’s galactico-heavy side are heading towards a big fall.

Lionel Messi has warned Manchester City they could not have picked a worse time to face Barcelona.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL:

When Diego Simeone took charge at Atletico Madrid, just over two years ago, the challenge he faced was huge.

Outgoing Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has been handed a two-game ban for domestic cup matches following his dismissal in the Copa del Rey final on Friday night.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho remained non-committal about where he will be next term after his side lost 2-1 in the Copa del Rey final against local rivals Atletico Madrid last night to round off the “worst season” of his life.

Alex Ferguson cannot wait to lock horns with Jose Mourinho again in the Premier League, although the Portuguese says he has still to decide where his future lies.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has stressed he has not made a decision over where he will be next season.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho today stressed he has not made a decision over where he will be next season.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho gave his strongest hint yet that he is ready to return to Chelsea this summer after watching his side exit the Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo hailed his team’s continuing good form against Barcelona at the Nou Camp after they stormed into the Copa del Rey final last night.

Michael Laudrup believes guiding Swansea to Wembley would rank as one of the finest achievements of his career as the south Wales club prepare to face Middlesbrough in the last eight of the Capital One Cup.

Spain had to win, and to win in style.

Spain captain Iker Casillas believes winning the European Championship this summer will be made all the more difficult as opponents will raise their game against the reigning champions and World Cup winners.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves will miss the Copa del Rey final next week after breaking his collarbone in training today.

Barcelona director of football Andoni Zubizarreta has denied claims by former president Joan Laporta the club could have done more to ensure Pep Guardiola continued as coach at the Nou Camp next season.

While some players may be looking to wind down at this stage of the season with one eye on a beach holiday, Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez will be giving it everything over the coming weeks to try and ensure his summer will be spent on international duty in Ukraine and Poland.

Barcelona moved swiftly to continue the philosophies developed successfully by Pep Guardiola by appointing Tito Vilanova as his successor.

Here is a potted history of the man who captained Johan Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ in the ‘90s and managed one of the greatest Barcelona sides ever.

Alex Ferguson has demanded that his Manchester United players “waken” from their slumbers against Athletic Bilbao tonight in order to protect their European status.

Manchester United stumbled into a Europa League last-16 meeting with Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford last night after coming perilously close to being knocked out by Ajax.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola claimed his side deserved to be closer to Real Madrid than the current 10-point gap to the Primera Division leaders but vowed his team would not give up their title without a fight after last night’s 5-1 thrashing of Valencia.

Stephane Sessegnon struck in extra-time to break Middlesbrough hearts as Sunderland booked an FA Cup fifth-round clash with Arsenal in dramatic style.

With Spain’s top two recognised strikers injured or out of form, Ireland could face an even bigger threat in Gdansk on June 14

Coach Pep Guardiola wants Barcelona to do their talking on the pitch after a dramatic war of words erupted between him and Real Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho ahead of tonight’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol does not know whether he will be fit to play in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has revealed captain Carles Puyol could feature in tomorrow’s clasico away to Real Madrid.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has set his sights on more silverware and vowed not to live off past glories after agreeing to extend his contract with the Catalan club earlier this week.

Emmanuel Adebayor spoke of his delight after making a goalscoring home debut for Real Madrid to help his side through to a Copa del Rey final showdown against Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores admits the buck stops with him after seeing his side slump to a demoralising home defeat at the hands of bottom club Xerez.

A politician from Spain’s Partido Popular has accused the television station charged with broadcasting last night’s Copa del Rey final between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao of “censuring” its transmission of the game.

BARCELONA striker Thierry Henry is doubtful for the Champions League final due to an anterior cruciate ligament strain in his right knee.

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry is doubtful for the Champions League final due to an anterior cruciate ligament strain in his right knee.

Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is set to be sidelined for up to 10 weeks with the knee injury he sustained during last night’s Champions League clash with Chelsea.

Ronaldinho has been omitted from the Barcelona squad for Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final return leg at Valencia.

The Spanish press today hailed the impending arrival of Thierry Henry at Barcelona with almost universal praise.

SEVILLA retained the UEFA Cup with a 3-1 penalty shoot-out win against 10-man Espanyol at Hampden Park last night.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has warned his side not to get too far ahead of themselves as they chase a spot in the Copa del Rey final.