Irish football chiefs are taking legal advice over claims that Republic of Ireland players were paid $10,000 (€8,900) each not to tackle Argentina star Lionel Messi during a 2010 friendly.

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Giovanni Trapattoni will be unveiled as Morocco’s manager tomorrow, according to Italian media reports.

Reports in Italy have linked former Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni with the manager’s job at Morocco.

After ridding himself of the hurt caused by his axing under the previous manager, Kevin Doyle says he has no intention of settling for a bit-part role in the new Ireland regime.

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It has to be said we in the readed meeja were a little put out when we learned Roy Keane wouldn’t be in attendance for the grand unveiling today of Martin O’Neill as the new Ireland manager.

A new era has officially begun with confirmation that Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane have put pen to paper on initial two-year contracts — with an option to renew for a further two years — to become, respectively, the new manager and assistant manager of Ireland.

I suppose with all the hype in the media and the growing pressure on Giovanni Trapattoni since the European Championships last summer, it didn’t come as a huge surprise to anybody to see him relieved of his duties less than a day after the defeat to Austria in Vienna which effectively made it impossible for Ireland to qualify for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.

In contrast to his swish unveiling at a packed RDS five years ago, Giovanni Trapattoni discovered his fate in a subdued airport lounge yesterday morning.

The FAI is denying there was any large pay-off for Giovanni Trapattoni.

Mick McCarthy could be invited back for a second spell as Republic of Ireland manager after Giovanni Trapattoni’s reign ended with World Cup disappointment.

The FAI have confirmed the departure of Giovanni Trapattoni from the Republic of Ireland job.

Giovanni Trapattoni has accepted his reign as Republic of Ireland boss will end after the current World Cup campaign – regardless of whether they qualify or not.

Glenn Whelan’s withdrawal from the Ireland squad with a hamstring injury means there will be at least one significant change in the team to face Austria in the potentially last-gasp World Cup qualifier in Vienna tomorrow night.

Marco Tardelli has insisted Giovanni Trapattoni would happily extend his stay as Republic of Ireland boss if given the opportunity.

Republic of Ireland's World Cup dreams are in tatters tonight following a 2-1 defeat against Sweden.

Giovanni Trapattoni is still pondering a solution to the Aiden McGeady problem, with Simon Cox now in the frame to start on the left flank in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden tomorrow night.

Marco Tardelli is confident Richard Dunne could play against both Sweden and Austria if required as he prepares to return to competitive international football.

After a late night of starkly contrasting fortunes, James McCarthy and Shane Long were up bright and early yesterday to fly into Dublin and take a full part in Ireland squad training at Malahide.

Giovanni Trapattoni would have no qualms about giving Anthony Pilkington his international debut against Sweden, according to Marco Tardelli.

Marco Tardelli has said the Republic of Ireland need to get four points in their two World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria, but believes they can get all six.

James McCarthy belatedly joined up with the Republic of Ireland squad this morning after completing his deadline-day move to Everton.

The fact that Paddy Madden watched part of Euro 2012 in Magaluf and the rest of it back in Dublin with his Da tells you something about what a transformative year it has been for the 23-year-old who, 14 months on, now finds himself coming to grips with the novelty of working with Ireland’s senior squad.

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Marco Tardelli believes Gareth Bale risks losing the respect of his team-mates if he does not play for Wales in Wednesday's friendly.

Having missed the squad session on the pitch, David Forde emerged from the gym at Gannon Park yesterday sporting a smile as sunny as the weather.

Marco Tardelli has ordered the Republic of Ireland’s players to forget about the euphoria of their performances against England and Georgia as they prepare to return to World Cup battle.

Richard Dunne sat out Republic of Ireland training today as manager Giovanni Trapattoni maintained a cautious approach.

Sandwiched between England at Wembley and a World Cup qualifier, it’s fair to say that not too many people have had Georgia on their mind.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will not throw his young players in at the deep end as he attempts to nurse a new generation through to the senior international stage.

Robbie Brady is out of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands and Sunday's friendly against Georgia.

If there’s one player, above all others, who personifies the concept of commitment to the Irish cause, then it must be Darren O’Dea.

Seamus Coleman is learning the ropes at a rate of knots, off the pitch as well as on it.

Marco Tardelli has responded to Kevin Doyle’s disappointment at being notified of his axing from the Irish squad by text, saying that it’s normal for the team management to contact the players in this way.

Giovanni Trapattoni had said he was concerned about the atmosphere and Alan Kelly had expressed worries about the flight of the ball, but, seemingly resigned to the roof in the Friends Arena being closed in Stockholm tomorrow night, Marco Tardelli now says it doesn’t really matter to the visitors.

Assistant manager Marco Tardelli has assured striker Kevin Doyle he still has a future with Ireland despite being dropped from the squad by text.

You might be tempted to call it accentuating the positive or seeing the glass half-full or even just standard managerial spin but, for a man deemed to be facing a make or break brace of games, there’s no getting away from the fact Giovanni Trapattoni is radiating confidence and good vibes in the run-up to Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers away to Sweden on Friday and at home to Austria the following Tuesday.

On a visit to Brazil this week Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness jointly opened a George Best exhibition in Sao Paolo.

Chris Hughton, Mick McCarthy and Owen Coyle — these are Liam Brady’s preferred candidates for the job of succeeding Giovanni Trapattoni as Ireland manager.

Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Kelly has hit back at suggestions by manager Giovanni Trapattoni that he only wanted to join up with the squad if he was guaranteed to play.

Giovanni Trapattoni hailed a new generation of internationals as Ireland saw off Poland 2-0 in Dublin.

Darron Gibson has turned down a late request to join the Irish squad for tomorrow’s match against Poland after David Meyler’s withdrawal with a knee injury left Giovanni Trapattoni short of midfield options.

Newly-appointed Ireland U21 captain Shane Duffy wants to get Darron Gibson back on the international stage but is unsure if his Everton clubmate is willing to end his exile.

Darron Gibson could return to the Republic of Ireland squad for next month's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria.