Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock will have to watch the Blades’ first two matches back in the Barclays Premiership from the stands after being hit with a touchline ban.

Ireland lost by a mere two points to Switzerland today in Geneva in the first of their European qualifier games.

Terenure College 23 Dungannon 12

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has assured Neil Lennon he will not be stripped of the captaincy in the wake of the midfielder’s dismissal in the Old Firm defeat on August 20.

Japan became the first country to book their place at next year’s World Cup finals, other than hosts Germany, with a 2-0 win over North Korea today.

Marcus Tregoning’s stable stalwart Mubtaker returns to the fray once more as he makes his seasonal bow in the Dubai Tennis Championships Stakes at Newbury tomorrow.

Swansea striker Lee Trundle may face police action after aiming insults at Welsh rivals Cardiff while celebrating his club’s Football League Trophy victory.

Swansea duo Lee Trundle and Alan Tate were today arrested by police and charged by the Football Association of Wales following the anti-Cardiff obscenities they paraded at the Millennium Stadium.

Former Manchester United keeper Alex Stepney believes it is unfair to criticise Roy Carroll for not admitting Tottenham should have scored a late winner during Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw.

British supermarket chain Iceland was poised to be separated from its parent company Big Food today after the group received a £326m (€474.5m) offer from Icelandic retailer Baugur.

Former referees’ chief Philip Don has defended Graham Poll’s decision to allow Thierry Henry to score with a quick free-kick against Chelsea yesterday.

Hollywood star Will Smith set a red-carpet record today by appearing at three movie premieres in one day.

Patrick Kluivert’s 11th goal of the season booked Newcastle a place in the FA Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in eight years as the injury-ravaged Magpies limped past Tottenham.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern is to visit five European capitals in 48 hours as part of a whirlwind United Nations mission, it emerged today.

Waterford 1-14 Galway 5-13

President George W Bush suffered cuts and bruises when he fell while mountain biking on his ranch, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said.

Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given believes Ireland should have nothing to fear ahead of Saturday’s “must-win” clash with Switzerland in Basle.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has called his players "stupid" for their behaviour at the end of Sunday's match against Manchester United.

Vinnie Roe will bid to make racing history on Saturday by going for his fourth successive victory in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has proposed drawn matches become a relic of football’s past by stressing that all matches should have a winning and losing team.