Fifa is facing a serious revolt within the ranks against its ban on third party ownership (TPO) of players which was imposed in December, writes David Shonfield.

Last week was supposed to be one where Spanish football supporters prepared to cheer on at least one La Liga side in Saturday’s Champions League final.

This week we saw the Champions League resume after its winter break with some mouth-watering fixtures as the competition came down to the last 16 teams.

THE Champions League group stage has become such a formality for English clubs in the past few years that it comes as shock to realise Arsenal could be the only English club left in the competition by Thursday morning.

HIS name is Ballesteros.

UEFA have billed it from the off as ‘Dublin 2011 — The Final Adventure’ but for anyone who had to get to the Aviva Stadium on eve of match business yesterday, just crossing the capital city was an adventure in itself.

With Roy Hodgson’s short and unimpressive tenure already consigned to the Anfield history books, Liverpool will begin the search for the right manager to take over at the start of next season and restore the club to its fading glories.

BARCELONA — Real Madrid is definitely the biggest match in Europe – and thus the world – and the Spanish won’t let anyone forget it.

A product from the Liga baby food range is being recalled from Irish shop shelves, over safety fears.

RENOWNED baby food Liga is being urgently recalled from the Irish market amid fears that biscuits could pose a choking danger if fed dry to young babies.

TOP La Liga side Villarreal are to follow the example of Real Madrid last year and hold their pre-season training camp in Ireland, later this month.

There are real differences between German and Spanish football, above all when it comes to finance and development, writes David Shonfield

IF there is one thing that captures the Spanish soul for us foreigners it’s flamenco.

Bayern Munich director of sport Christian Nerlinger has rubbished rumours linking his club with a bid for Liverpool forward Ryan Babel.

HAMILTON Academical starlet James McCarthy yesterday moved to quash speculation that he will leave the struggling SPL outfit this month.

KEVIN KEEGAN has admitted he wants to launch an audacious summer move for Thierry Henry to get his Newcastle revolution up and running.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own. Today, and every Tuesday, he will be acting as referee on your opinions on the Premiership. Let him know what you think and he’ll argue the toss with you. We’ll be offering a free sports prize to the star contribution each week.