The corruption charges engulfing soccer’s governing body have heaped shame and humiliation on the game, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said yesterday, although he flatly rejected calls to resign over the scandal.

Football appears to be at a crossroads today as Sepp Blatter remains defiant in the face of a threatened revolution from Uefa as the shockwaves from Fifa’s “seismic” corruption scandal continued to rock the global game.

Uefa, European football’s governing body, has said the election to choose a new president for international organisation Fifa should be postponed following the arrest of soccer officials in Zurich.

Unlike Uefa, FAI chief executive John Delaney believes tomorrow’s Fifa election should go ahead in order not to allow embattled President Sepp Blatter time to circle the wagons following yesterday’s dramatic events in Zurich which saw the dawn arrest of seven Fifa officials as part of investigations into corruption charges.

The Government has given the green light for its sale in Aer Lingus, six football officials have been arrested and detained in Switzerland ahead of the Fifa congress in Zurich, 100 new jobs set for Cork in a cyber security firm and the RubberBandits help launch the Limerick European Capital of Culture 2020 campaign. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

Ten-man Belgium held on to beat Israel 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier last night after Marouane Fellaini scored an early goal and captain Vincent Kompany was sent off midway through the second half.

The man in charge of investigating World Cup has quit with a parting blast at Fifa’s leadership.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter today labelled penalty shoot-outs “a tragedy” and challenged Franz Beckenbauer to come up with an alternative.

A report by FIFA’s anti-corruption adviser today criticised past investigations by the governing body, but stopped short of calling for probes into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup to be reopened.

There are growing fears that Britain’s special FIFA privileges are under threat following the Football Association’s failed attempt to prevent Sepp Blatter being re-elected as president.

The Football Association’s bid to postpone the FIFA presidential election ended in a heavy defeat today.

Mohamed Bin Hammam today wrote to FIFA to protest about his treatment at the hands of the organisation.

The Football Association would support any credible challenger to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in June’s election, senior figures within the organisation have disclosed.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has strengthened his power after a bid to impose an eight-year limit on future leaders of the game’s world governing body was defeated.

IRISH hopes of a re-staging of the controversial second leg of their World Cup play-off game against France were dashed last night when it became clear that the French Football Federation (FFF) see no basis for such a game to take place.

Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney has urged FIFA to uphold their own principles and “step up to the plate” by agreeing to replay last night’s controversial World Cup play-off defeat by France.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has revealed he will stand for re-election in 2011, insisting “I have not yet achieved my mission in football.”

FAI CHIEFS say they’ll back Giovanni Trapattoni’s moves for new international talent following a controversial FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch international allegiance.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has claimed the dominance of English clubs in the Champions League proves a quota system to limit the number of foreign players is needed.

IFA has confirmed a record number of nations will attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Europe’s elite clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, today vowed to boycott the World Club Championship next year despite an effort by FIFA to slim down the competition.

FIFA are considering a proposal that any player requiring treatment has to leave the pitch for a minimum of two minutes in an effort to cut down on footballers feigning injury.

THE Football Association were yesterday reprimanded by FIFA president Sepp Blatter for the delay in dealing with the Rio Ferdinand case and warned about their failure to implement rules on immediate suspensions for red cards.

The Football Association today faced criticism from FIFA president Sepp Blatter over the lack of speed in dealing with the Rio Ferdinand case and their failure to implement rules on immediate suspensions for red cards.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE could miss all of France’s first round matches in their defence of the World Cup and has been put under intensive treatment, the team doctor said yesterday.

The Football Association of Ireland today maintained there was no way back for Roy Keane into the World Cup squad.