Barnsley have been fined £20,000 by the Football Association and ordered to “implement an action plan” after the club’s deputy safety officer told match officials that James McClean “should be used to” abuse.

Aston Villa striker Scott Hogan has joined Birmingham on loan after being recalled from Stoke, the Premier League club have announced.

James McClean says that sectarian abuse aimed at him in football grounds has “simmered right down” since the authorities began taking belated but decisive action to deal with a problem

McClean is enjoying a resurgence of form under Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill at Stoke, with talk of a possible all-Ireland Euros qualifier so far confined to some good-natured joshing.

The anti-discrimination body says the current situation can't continue for the sake of McClean and his family's wellbeing.

Barnsley have been hit with a Football Association charge after Stoke midfielder James McClean was allegedly the target of sectarian chants in the lead-up to Remembrance Sunday.

"It has become clear this type of abuse is becoming a weekly occurrence for James."

Huddersfield FC are investigating the racist behaviour towards Stoke's James McClean during their clash last night.

Nathan Collins is confident that decimated Ireland can keep their U21 European Championship challenge on course in Armenia today.

Manchester City goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu will make his Ireland U21 debut in Thursday's European Championship qualifier against Armenia.

Is it any wonder everyone hates us?

Stoke sacked Nathan Jones on Friday and radio reports said that Alex Neil, who has turned Preston into Sky Bet Championship promotion candidates, is their number one managerial target.

Goals change games we know but, listening to Scott Hogan, it’s clear he feels his winner for Championship basement side Stoke City against high-flying Swansea City last Saturday, could be a personal game-changer of an altogether different magnitude.

Northern Ireland suffered the first defeat of their European Under-21 Championship qualifying campaign as they were beaten 2-1 by Denmark in Aalborg.

Nottingham Forest surged to the top of the SkyBet Championship on the back of a 3-2 win at Stoke that increased the pressure on under-fire boss Nathan Jones.

Leeds’ Achilles heel hurt them once more as the Sky Bet Championship leaders were held 1-1 at home by Derby.

In a spirit of, as he put it,“nothing ventured, nothing gained”, Mick McCarthy has made the left-field decision to play Conor Hourihane atleft-back against Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium tonight.

Roy Keane has spoken of his desire to have another crack at management and launched a stinging attack on Jonathan Walters for his behaviour towards the end of his time involved with Ireland.

It appears there’s quite the mutual appreciation society developing between Mick McCarthy and James McClean.

James McClean has warned Switzerland to write off the Republic of Ireland at their peril as the sides prepare to go head-to-head in the battle for Euro 2020 qualification.

Wayne Routledge scored a last-minute winner as Swansea edged their top-of-the-table clash with Leeds at Elland Road.

Mick McCarthy's men face Switzerland in a "huge" Euro2020 qualifier on September 5 before a friendly with Bulgaria five days later.

Mick McCarthy is considering delaying a decision on the make-up of his final squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland and the friendly against Bulgaria, amid concerns about the impact of injuries and the amount of game-time some of those in contention are getting with their clubs.

The striker, on loan from Arsenal, struck just four minutes after his introduction as a 77th-minute substitute.

Glenn Whelan says Craig Levein’s ambition is what convinced him to join Hearts.

QPR have called for action to be taken “at every level of our game” after the club’s under-18 side walked off the pitch during a friendly in Spain following alleged racist abuse by opposition players.

Irish centre-back Nathan Collins became the youngest captain in Stoke City's 156-year history as he led the Potters to victory in the Carabao Cup last night.

The draw was made after completion of 33 first-round fixtures last night and includes all the top-flight clubs who are not involved in European competitions.

Kya deLongchamps is floored by the beauty of original encaustic tiling.

In an unprecedented development, it has been widely accepted the Premier League has returned at roughly the correct time.

The Ireland manager is considering Birmingham City’s new recruit for inclusion in his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland.

Promotion favourites Fulham suffered a blast of Championship reality with a shock opening-weekend 1-0 loss at Barnsley.

Burnley have made their first summer signing with Stoke defender Erik Pieters joining on a two-year deal.

Ireland U19 manager Tom Mohan believes his team can do the nation proud at next month’s Euros, despite losing a glut of players.

Manchester United fans were involved in more football-related arrests where racism was an aggravating factor or a feature than any other club in England in the four seasons up to 2017-18, data from the UK Home Office shows.

Manchester United go into tomorrow's derby with Manchester City on a run of six defeats in eight games.

When Richard Keogh sits before you with his right hand almost totally encased in a protective cast and bandaging, he looks for all the world like a player who is about to tell you how gutted he is to have to sit out the next game through injury.

Richard Keogh is ready to play with a broken hand as the Republic of Ireland attempt to launch their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with victory in Gibraltar.

McCarthy saw both current and potential Ireland internationals notch goals on his scouting trip on Saturday.

Newport County’s remarkable FA Cup odyssey may have ended on Saturday but a 4-1 defeat didn’t stop Irish striker Pádraig Amond from leaving the pitch with a pep in his step.

Here's your lunchtime bulletin.

Few would argue against the assessment that Matt Doherty has been the top-performing Irish player in Britain this season.

Is a reunion on the cards?

O'Neill was a hugely animated figure and was lectured by referee Jeremy Simpson after straying from his technical area and down the side of the pitch once too often.