FIFA president Sepp Blatter has promised to address the latest allegations of bribery within the organisation.

WHAT a week of old-fashioned Cold War intrigue. I haven’t had so much doublecross-tastic fun since Lisbeth Salander set up boxer Harold Neidermann in the final chapter of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy.

Alex Ferguson has expressed doubt that FIFA will ever become a fully democratic organisation.

Future FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has called for the secret vote for World Cups to be scrapped.

The Football Association’s acting chairman Roger Burden has launched an astonishing attack on FIFA in the wake of England’s 2018 World Cup defeat saying the world governing body cannot be trusted.

THE recriminations over England’s humiliating defeat in their attempt to win the 2018 World Cup began last night after the bid was eliminated in the first round with just two votes.

England’s hopes of staging the 2018 World Cup have been boosted at the very start of a four-day inspection of their bid, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitting it would be “easy” to stage the tournament in the country.

UEFA PRESIDENT Michel Platini has waded into the Lord Triesman controversy by offering his support to the peer who was forced to resign as chairman of the FA and England’s 2018 World Cup bid after secret recordings were published.

LORD TRIESMAN’S alleged comments about England’s rival bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup are to come under further scrutiny after football’s world governing body announced last night that the FIFA ethics committee will investigate the statements.

David Triesman's alleged comments about England's rival bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup are to come under further scrutiny after football's world governing body announced this evening that the FIFA ethics committee will investigate the statements.

Spanish football federation secretary general Jorge Perez Arias has labelled the idea of his country trying to bribe World Cup referees as “ridiculous”.

Sebastian Coe insists England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup still has “solid foundations” despite chairman Lord Triesman being forced to quit.

Fabio Capello has been signed up to help England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.

FA chairman Lord Triesman has branded Richard Bevan’s widespread attack on the way the game is being run as “foolish”.

Martin O’Neill does not believe an intention to focus on the senior side cost him the England job in 2006 – but the Aston Villa boss looks no closer to throwing his hat into the ring this time after seemingly backing the claims of Jose Mourinho.

FA CHAIRMAN Geoff Thompson has admitted England’s failure to qualify for next summer’s Euro 2008 finals is an “embarrassment” which left his board with no choice but to sack manager Steve McClaren.

Steve McClaren was today sacked as England manager, the Football Association announced.

The Football Association have called an emergency board meeting this morning at which England coach Steve McClaren seems certain to get the sack.

MICHAEL FOLEY has won the Boylesports Irish Sports Book of the Year Award for ‘Kings of September’, his account of the 1982 All-Ireland football final in which Offaly foiled Kerry’s bid for a historic five-in-a-row.

THE Football Association cast aside their caution yesterday and announced England will join the race to host the 2018 World Cup.

The English Football Association have announced that England are to bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will meet British Prime Minister Gordon Brown today with a potential bid by England for the 2018 World Cup top of the agenda.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown tomorrow with a potential bid by England for the 2018 World Cup top of the agenda.

Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick has expressed his disappointment following remarks criticising England by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

Sepp Blatter today added his voice to mounting criticism of John McBeth, the Scot dramatically dumped as Britain’s FIFA vice-president following an extraordinary attack on African and Caribbean nations.

Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson has been named as the next British FIFA vice-president after John McBeth was today dumped by the four home nations.

The Football Association have voted to accept the biggest reform of the governing body in their 144-year history.

John McBeth, the Scot who will take over Britain’s FIFA vice-presidency, believes he got the job because of hatred for England and has accused African associations of corruption and greed.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has thrown his weight behind calls for Manchester United to reschedule this summer’s controversial tour of Asia.

Portuguese football chiefs have cleared the way for Luiz Felipe Scolari to discuss a possible move to England.

LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI is set to be appointed next England manager if he can agree terms with the Football Association, but an announcement is unlikely before next week.

Luiz Felipe Scolari is set to be appointed as the next England manager if he can agree terms with the Football Association but an announcement is unlikely before next week.

The Football Association in England has finished interviewing contenders for the England job but no decision has yet been made.

THE search for the next England manager is nearing its climax with Martin O’Neill and Steve McClaren apparently neck-and-neck in the race to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Football Association’s board will be presented with a shortlist of three or four candidates for the England manager’s job today.

THE FAI have welcomed UEFA’s decision to award €1.5 million in development money for the game in Ireland.

A three-man team has been appointed to find Sven-Goran Eriksson’s successor as England head coach.

ENGLAND coach Sven-Goran Eriksson insists he remains “100% committed” to the England job and believes his relationship with the players “has not been damaged in any way” by revelations in a Sunday newspaper.

Sven-Goran Eriksson proclaimed his delight after England were named as one of the eight top seeds for next summer’s World Cup finals in Germany.

Football Association chairman Geoff Thompson believes England will be in a “very strong position” to mount a challenge to host the World Cup when the tournament next returns to Europe.

Lord Burns is tomorrow set to propose reducing the power-base of Premier League clubs by putting forward significant changes to the structure of the Football Assocation’s main board.

Liverpool today won the right to defend their Champions League trophy next season but UEFA’s decision to make Rafael Benitez’ side play six qualifying matches led to accusations that they are treating the Reds with “contempt“.

Opinion is still “divergent” among UEFA’s executive committee on whether Liverpool should be given the opportunity to defend their Champions League crown, with a decision due on Friday at the earliest.