The deepening row over Ireland’s bitter World Cup defeat to France after the “Henry handball” scandal risked turning into a diplomatic dispute tonight.

HOW many Irish fans eventually make it into the Stade de France on November 18 remains to be seen but the early indications are that well over 10,000 will secure a golden ticket for the second leg of the World Cup play-off.

THE France-based Chelsea scout at the centre of the Gael Kakuta affair has broken his silence on the controversy and insisted French clubs are willing participants in the transfer of their best talents abroad.

Gerard Houllier has reportedly ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Republic of Ireland manager's job.

CHELSEA have consulted lawyers after allegations of a bust-up involving manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon over the sale of William Gallas to Arsenal.

Chelsea have consulted lawyers after allegations of a bust-up involving manager Jose Mourinho and chief executive Peter Kenyon over the sale of William Gallas to Arsenal.

THEY SAY there languishes somewhere in the vaults a low-rent Hollywood medieval war epic which would otherwise be forgotten but for a memorable scene at the beginning in which we meet a peasant leaving his village to do battle.

IT'S WHAT they call charisma. Zinedine Zidane strolls into the press room in the Stade Bollaert in Lens and, immediately, a mundane atmosphere is charged.

France coach Raymond Domenech has again left Robert Pires out of his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and the Republic of Ireland.

ALL the talk may have been about the troubles surrounding French football but a visit to Clairefontaine is a sobering reminder that Ireland are visiting one of the great powers of world football.

Tottenham will learn today whether or not they will lose leading scorer Frederic Kanoute to Mali for the African Nations Cup.

THE greatest player to wear the famous royal blue shirt of France made no attempt to hide his pleasure at thoughts of returning to Ireland, if only as a spectator, for World Cup action.

LUCAS NEILL yesterday delivered a get-well-soon message to stricken Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher and insisted there had been no malicious intent in the tackle that hurt him.

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