The FAI has announced UEFA's Noel Mooney is to take up a six-month secondment with the Football Association of Ireland.

The Board of the FAI has said it is “shocked and disappointed” by SIPTU's claim that there is a threat the Association could become insolvent in a matter of weeks.

The trade union says it has received information that the FAI is in an "extremely precarious financial situation".

The Premier League's 20 clubs say they will "vigorously defend" the domestic game against any plans to alter it.

The only doubt Stephen Kenny has about Troy Parrott’s readiness for U21 action relates to the player’s current injury problems.

Manager Colin Bell says that every game will be “like a cup final” for the senior Irish women’s team as they bid to make it to their first ever major tournament, the 2021 European Championship finals in England.

Drawing opposition as formidable as Legia Warsaw was hardly the dream date Cork City had in mind in the Champions League but, while John Caulfield is not hiding from the difficulty of the challenge thrown up by yesterday’s First Round draw in Nyon – “probably got the toughest that was there” was his initial reaction yesterday – the City manager is still hoping that his side can subject the three-in-a-row Polish champions to something of a “nightmare” in the first leg at home.

“Our fans will love going to Warsaw and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

League of Ireland teams will see their reward for European participation go up following yesterday’s announcement from Uefa.

European heavyweights Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are the big-hitters in today’s Champions League semi-final draw in Nyon (12pm midday )but Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp does not under-estimate surprise package Roma.

Premier League leaders Manchester City will not relish the prospect of facing Liverpool for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, according to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

A former Uefa director who went missing for two months has been found safe.

Should both countries qualify, Ireland and Spain are set to meet in the group stages of the multi-city Euro 2020 Finals.

Cork City will play Levadia Tallinn in the First Qualifying Round of this year’s Europa League.

Stephen Kenny will be in Poland tomorrow to watch Legia Warsaw host Piast Gliwice as Dundalk accelerate preparations for their huge Champions League play-off games against the Polish champions at Aviva Stadium on August 17 and in Warsaw on August 23.

Friday night marked four years almost to the day since Ireland’s last adieu to their Dublin faithful ahead of a European Championship bid and there were moments aplenty to make you wonder at how much has changed in that snapshot of time.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini does not believe there would have been any “easy draw” in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after his side were paired with French giants Paris St Germain.

None of the teams striving to make France in these play-offs really deserve their passage to Euro 2016, writes Brendan O’Brien

So what’s the story with Martin O’Neill and the number 31?

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

The first obstacle facing Ireland in Bosnia-Herzegovina next month will be the Zenica’s intimate Bilino Polje Stadium itself, its capacity of 12,000 meaning that the official allocation of tickets for the Green Army could be as low as 600.

Martin O’Neill says he is “delighted” that Ireland will have home advantage in the second leg of their Euros play-off against Bosnia-Herzegvina next month, but stresses his team will have to perform well away from home in the first leg if they are to hope to progress to the finals in France next year.

That’s life, that’s what all the people say, you’re ridin’ high in April, shot down in May…

Uefa’s members remain split over their support for Michel Platini with some associations backing an alternative candidate such as Holland’s Michael van Praag be put forward for the Fifa presidential election.

Angel di Maria is sure he will find contentment at Paris St Germain after a woeful and unsettling year at Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola is looking forward to returning home after the Champions League semi-final draw pitted Bayern Munich against Barcelona.

Juventus may be in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 12 years but of all four clubs left in, the Italian side have the best record at this stage of the competition.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has accused UEFA of lacking the “courage” to provide a challenge to his leadership, and called on the European governing body to be “respectful” of his wish to continue in the role.

Playmaker Cesc Fabregas is available following suspension as Chelsea travel to Derby for their Capital One Cup quarter-final clash on Tuesday night.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he would much prefer a Champions League draw against former club Monaco than a run-in with one of Europe’s heavyweights.

Uefa will prohibit clubs in the disputed territory of the Crimea playing matches in the Russian league.

Former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane is in advanced negotiations with the FAI about taking up a coaching role with the Ireland’s youth teams.

Robin van Persie will not be available for Manchester United’s game against West Ham tomorrow, said manager David Moyes who also claimed he is "looking forward to" their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Managerless Tottenham face a reunion with former boss Juande Ramos’ after yesterday’s Europa League last-32 draw pitted the north London outfit with Ukrainian side Dnipro.

UEFA has confirmed that Malaga have had the second year of their European ban lifted but the Champions League quarter-finalists will still be barred from playing in continental competition next season should they qualify.

Chelsea will face Basle in the semi-finals of the Europa League as they bid to win their second successive European title.

Maybe this New York soccer friendly will be no more than a money-spinning afterthought tacked onto a busy end-of-season schedule.

Newcastle 1 Anzhi Makhachkala 0 (Newcastle win 1-0 on agg.)