Japan have withdrawn from this summer’s Copa America after they were unable to secure the release of both domestic and foreign-based players for the competition, the Japan Football Association have announced.

FIFA WILL examine the Premier League’s controversial plan to hold some matches overseas, the world governing body’s president, Sepp Blatter, announced yesterday.

Japanese and US officials today focused on how stringently producers should test their cattle for mad cow disease in talks aimed at lifting Japan’s 10-month-old ban on American beef imports.

Japan confirmed its 14th case of mad cow disease today, underscoring concerns about the fatal brain-wasting illness as Tokyo considers relaxing cattle-testing standards that could allow a resumption of US beef imports.

Irish fans have been described as the best in the business by World Cup organisers.