Sunderland have dismissed fears that John O’Shea could miss Euro 2012 by giving him the all-clear to join up with the Irish squad next week.

A HANDYMAN has admitted trying to blackmail Coleen Rooney for £5,000 over stolen personal photos.

PATRICE EVRA claims Manchester United can make their rivals pay for their slip-ups and are on course to take over as the Barclays Premier League’s outright leaders.

GERMAN-based striker Dimitar Rangelov will miss Bulgaria’s Group Eight qualifier with Ireland on Saturday.

FOOTBALL legend George Best’s European Cup winner’s medal has sold at auction for £156,000 (€176,867).

CARLO ANCELOTTI has branded suggestions he was eyeing Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao as a replacement for Ashley Cole as “totally rubbish”.

PORTUGAL suffered a major injury blow yesterday after it was announced winger Nani would play no part in the World Cup after damaging his collarbone.

MANCHESTER United will tighten up its procedures governing the buying and selling of players, following a review undertaken after pressure from major shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus.

THE prospect of Manchester United, the much-loved and much-hated football club, coming under Irish control moved closer yesterday.

JOSE MOURINHO finally predicted that his Chelsea side would become the club’s first champions for 50 years.

TWO of Ireland’s greatest sports stars will jet into Cork tomorrow to receive the freedom of their home city.

MARK HALSEY will be returned to Premier League duty ‘‘before the end of the month’’.

JOHN MAGNIER and JP McManus increased their stake in Manchester United just a week after reports said they were preparing to dispose their entire holding.

ONE minute he’s deified, the next he’s crucified. So what makes one of soccer’s most controversial figures tick?

ARSENAL’S run to the Champions League final has seen them eclipse Chelsea’s earnings for television income and prize money in the 2005-06 season.

AFTER four weeks of intense speculation, England will finally discover whether Wayne Rooney has any chance of going to the World Cup today.

ALEX FERGUSON has pleaded with Manchester United fans to call off their planned protest on Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.

MALCOLM GLAZER is within touching distance of owning 100% of Manchester United.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been included in Manchester United's squad for the group stages of the Champions League.

A bomb threat led hundreds of students to seek refuge at Manchester United's pre-season base at UCLA, just hours after Jose Mourinho's men finished training.