A US senator has said comparing corruption within Fifa to the mafia would be insulting to the mafia.

They turned out in tens of thousands, some painted in red, white and blue, waving flags and chanting ‘I Believe!’ in city parks, stadiums and sports bars from coast to coast on Tuesday, to watch the USA national soccer team play Belgium in the knockout round of the World Cup.

PANIC set in at the back of the hastily-arranged press conference on the ground floor of Niketown.

David Beckham should brace himself for a hostile reaction from some fans when he returns to action in Major League Soccer this month, the top man in the American game has warned.

Newcastle were tonight working to tie up their loan swoop for United States defender Oguchi Onyewu after he arrived on Tyneside for a medical.

THE FAI has asked soccer’s world governing body FIFA for guidance over its participation at the Under-20 World Championships in the United Arab Emirates later this month.

Celtic have been told that a New York friendly with AC Milan to raise money for those affected by the September 11 cannot take place.