Once when asked to describe jazz, the famous pianist Thomas Fats Waller replied, “if you don’t know by now, don’t mess with it”. The quote is both sanitised — a four-letter word other than mess was used — and often misattributed (to Louis Armstrong).

Gareth Southgate is considering dropping Raheem Sterling against Panama, judging by a note spotted at England training.

Two cramped rooms in a Moscow suburb could make or break countries’ dreams of World Cup glory.

Ashley Young admits he cannot predict how he would react to racist abuse at this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Doping is one of the key topics in any sports law course. Students generally want to talk about the excuses athletes resort to in trying to reduce the length of their ban.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has called for an emergency meeting of the governing body's council to discuss a €20.5billion plan to overhaul the Club World Cup and set up a new national league.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is braced for controversy at the World Cup after the use of video assistant referees was approved last month.

AS Ireland’s Grand Slam celebrations began at Twickenham on St Patrick’s Day, Na Piarsaigh and Cuala played out a thrilling draw in the All-Ireland Club hurling final at Croke Park.

It’s not often a man folds a tent this quickly.

Tottenham 4 Liverpool 1: In London’s West End tonight, Fifa will name their World Player of the Year at a glitzy ceremony at the capital’s Palladium.

Antonio Conte has hit out at “ridiculous” reports he turned off his phone when Ross Barkley wanted to speak to him over a possible transfer to Chelsea.

Fifa are to investigate the world-record transfer of Paul Pogba to Manchester United.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has accused his replacement Gianni Infantino of disrespecting him.

Football’s world governing body has confirmed it has begun disciplinary action against the Republic of Ireland over a 1916 commemorative jersey worn in a friendly game last March.

The Croatian federation has been fined 50,000 Swiss francs by FIFA for the "inappropriate behaviour" of the national team's fans during a World Cup qualifier against Kosovo on October 6.

FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani has suggested football might still be blighted by corruption if Russia and Qatar had not been chosen to host the next two World Cups.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated his desire to expand the World Cup finals format from 32 to 48 teams.

The International Olympic Committee has postponed a decision on whether to ban the entire Russian Olympic team from the Rio Games but has announced a raft of measures in response to Monday’s report of state-directed doping.

Uefa has warned England and Russia their teams could be disqualified from Euro 2016 if there is more violence.

Sepp Blatter’s 40-year Fifa reign came to a humiliating end as he and Michel Platini, the two most powerful men in world football, were banned for eight years by Fifa’s ethics committee for abusing their positions yesterday.

Disgraced former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has claimed there is no coincidence that his lifetime ban has been announced at the same time that Sepp Blatter is engulfed by a storm of controversy.

Even though the vexed matter of qualification for the Euro finals in France next year is a much more pressing concern, Ireland will today learn their qualifying destiny for the World Cup in Russia in 2018 when the preliminary draw takes place in St Petersburg, kicking off at 4pm Irish time.

Barcelona have signed Turkey captain Arda Turan on a five-year contract from Atletico Madrid for an initial fee of €34 million.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter insists he has a clean conscience and that anyone who calls him corrupt should be sent to jail.

WILL he go? Will he stay? Will he jump or will he be pushed? Will we ever be rid of him? Will he haunt soccer for ever?

There’s a story that perhaps starts to indicate just how much Sepp Blatter thought of his role at Fifa, and just how unprecedented and unexpected yesterday’s news was.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will finish no later than December 18 – a move which could protect English football’s traditional Boxing Day games.

The split between Uefa and Fifa president Sepp Blatter has widened after reports the world governing body watered down a report into reform proposals.

Can Ireland grab a ticket for Euro 2016 in France?

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has ruled out revisiting the controversial vote that awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected FA chairman Greg Dyke’s call to publish the Garcia report into allegations of corruption in World Cup bidding.

The referee at the centre of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal at the 1986 World Cup has broken his silence about his decision to award one of the football’s most controversial goals to Argentina — and has claimed it was not his fault.

Luis Suarez’s controversial on-field antics appear to have counted strongly against him when an expert panel drew up a 23-man shortlist for the 2014 Fifa Ballon d’Or award.

Serbia and Albania are facing stiff sanctions after Uefa charged the countries with a number of offences following the abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier this week in Belgrade.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has spelled out his plans to allow managers to challenge refereeing decisions via TV replays and said trials could take place in tournaments next year.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has failed in his appeal to have a four-month ban completely overturned but a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) means he can now feature in friendlies for club and country.

Barcelona forward Pedro has branded new team-mate Luis Suarez’s four-month ban for biting by Fifa as "excessive".

Fifa has defended its decision to ban Nico Rosberg from carrying an image of the World Cup on his celebratory helmet for this weekend’s German Grand Prix.

Barcelona will not be allowed to publicly unveil new £75 million (€95m) signing Luis Suarez while he remains banned for biting, Fifa has confirmed.

Sorry about that World Cup jinx, everybody.

Luis Suarez is facing a dilemma over an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against his four-month biting ban as to whether he should ask his sanction to be put on hold until the outcome of the case.

Considering his face is plastered on every other billboard and features in all manner of television adverts, it may seem strange to call Pele ‘the invisible man’.