UEFA president Michel Platini has denied Liverpool fans are the worst-behaved in Europe while his organisation's spokesman William Gaillard has been called a "clown" by the Anfield club's co-owner Tom Hicks.

NEW GAA President Nickey Brennan yesterday reiterated comments made at last weekend’s Congress where he claimed that pay-for-play remained the ultimate ambition of the GPA.

Football legend George Best today made his final journey though the streets of his home city in an extraordinary funeral for an extraordinary man.

Bernie Ecclestone has called on the hundreds of businesses who profit from the Formula One circuit annually calling at Silverstone to make up the £1.5m (€2.2m) shortfall which is threatening to take the race off next year’s calendar.

The British Formula One Grand Prix will remain at Silverstone until 2006 after the circuit operators gave assurances over the development of the Northamptonshire venue.

THERE is often talk of a nation getting behind its sports people as they march into international competition, but when the national team in question comprises almost half the population, the support becomes a little more personal.

FAI PRESIDENT Milo Corcoran, was yesterday elected to a prestigious post with UEFA in which he will have responsibility for under-age football.