The president of football’s world governing body FIFA yesterday insisted plans by the Premier League to host games abroad ‘‘will never happen’’.

Celtic Winger Aiden McGeady has been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of next Wednesdays Euro 2008 Qualifier against San Marino because of a knee injury.

FOR Irish football, it was a story of gain and pain in Stuttgart on Saturday night. More accurately, the gain was largely in what was regained - spirit, pride, passion, sheer hard work - all those basic but crucial attributes which, even allowing for the absence of key players, had been alarmingly invisible in the dismal performance against Holland.

OH dear.