A Department of Health briefing document said there is “saturation exposure” of alcohol products during sporting events and cited the French model, which completely bans alcohol sponsorship, as “best practice”.

Arsene Wenger remains Arsenal’s “main asset”, according to the club’s second largest shareholder, Alisher Usmanov.

Chinese investors are paying $400m (€378m) for a stake in the group that owns soccer clubs including Manchester City and New York City FC, the country’s most significant overseas investment in the game.

Sky Sports. Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I see those two words, a large, neon-lit ‘£40’ immediately flashes inside my head.

At times during this World Cup qualification campaign, it has seemed Sweden’s approach has resembled that of their famed skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic — nonchalant and one-paced.

Setanta is lining up a weekend Premier League highlights show, it has emerged.

It was Andy Williams who first recorded the song about Christmas, claiming that “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”, but then the GAA and its unique fascinations probably weren’t all that big a deal around Wall Lake, Iowa where the famous old crooner was born.

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan believes the Old Firm clubs will be part of a European super league in 10 years’ time.

Keith Costigan is still on Dublin time, having just returned to Los Angeles from a trip home.

The people of Limerick and Munster are not racist, French soccer star Gael Clichy tweeted yesterday.

Slaven Bilic has been appointed coach of Lokomotiv Moscow from next season after they beat off competition from the Premier League for his signature.

BAYERN MUNICH have already put the disappointment of Saturday’s Bundesliga defeat to Borussia Dortmund behind them to focus solely on maintaining top spot in their Champions League group.

IT’S hard to get excited about the increasingly odious English Premier League soccer competition that begins this weekend, rioting and police response permitting.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes today said profits were down 58% after it suffered a barren start to the English Premier League football season.

THE prospective new owners of the Irish operations of sports broadcaster Setanta are understood to be in a race against time to put in place the necessary funding to buy the business, before the Irish transmission rights for English Premier League football are put out to tender in the coming weeks.

Disney-owned ESPN has won the bidding battle to secure the two remaining Premier League rights packages formerly held by troubled sports broadcaster Setanta.

SETANTA Sports founder Michael O’Rourke believes the company will survive its current difficulties but said there are no guarantees.

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has reiterated his desire to play in the English Premier League, and has revealed he will not be short of options if and when he decides to make the move.

TODAY

Jose Mourinho expects to take up a coaching job in either Spain or Italy next year before returning to the English Premier League.

SETANTA is stepping up its attack on Sky Sports with the launch of its own dedicated sports news channel.

Manchester City's new owner Thaksin Shinawatra has increased his shareholding in the club to 74.03%, just marginally short of the 75% mark which he needs to de-list the company from the Stock Exchange.

A-League outfit Sydney FC have ruled out a move for West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham because of the former England striker’s age.

Satellite channel, Setanta Sports, will broadcast at least 76 matches from the English Premier league each season from next year, it revealed tonight.

Fulham 0 Rangers 1

An auction for English Premier League football will begin this week when BSkyB invites bids for a package of matches.

Alex Ferguson believes Rangers and Celtic would both thrive in the Barclaycard Premiership.

THE English Premier League yesterday came under new pressure over the sale of exclusive broadcasting rights after UEFA reached a deal with the European Commission.