MISSING the call to spot Thierry Henry’s handball made referee Martin Hansson cry and will likely prevent the Swedish referee taking charge of a match at this World Cup.

THE group that represents former patients of surgeon Michael Shine has expressed fury at the Government’s refusal to publish the result of an investigation into allegations that he abused male patients in his care at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

IT’S first versus second at the top of the Airtricity League tonight (kick-off 8pm) as Saint Patrick’s Athletic visit Shamrock Rovers for another six-pointer Dublin derby.

FIFA will consider scrapping extra time at World Cups or reviving the ‘golden goal’ rule, the organisation’s president Sepp Blatter has announced.

KILKENNY GAA chiefs will lodge a formal complaint with Croke Park in the wake of the chaotic scenes after their All-Ireland SHC final win over Tipperary.

There are two recurring targets for fans’ anger, week in, week out – ‘The Sunday Game’ and the conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

FULHAM returned to winning ways courtesy of Clint Dempsey’s double as Blackburn failed to provide Sam Allardyce with another Premier League victory during his absence for heart surgery.

FRANCE’S first-choice front man André-Pierre Gignac suffered an injury scare during Toulouse’s 3-2 win against Rennes in Ligue 1 yesterday.

A SENIOR Swedish prosecutor reopened a rape investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange yesterday, the latest twist to a puzzling case in which prosecutors of different ranks have overruled each other.

THE online whistle-blower WikiLeaks said it will continue to publish more secret files from governments around the world despite US demands to cancel plans to release classified military documents.

GAA chiefs are set to investigate the unruly scenes during yesterday’s All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds, as 13-man Portlaoise crashed to defeat against Clare champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane.

AUSTRALIA coach Robbie Deans has endorsed the new law interpretations featured in the opening two rounds of the Super 14 competition, but believes referees must go a step further in order to achieve perfection.

A DOUBLE-JOBBING college lecturer has been blocked from claiming two pensions after concern was raised over lax governance standards in the third-level system.

PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez survived a popular referendum to oust him according to early results yesterday as Venezuela's opposition swiftly claimed fraud.

FURTHER details of the controversial sacking of Bord na gCon chief executive Aidan Tynan are expected this week when Sports Minister John O’Donoghue receives an urgent report on the matter.

Barry Coughlan

CHRIS WHITE will referee the Heineken Cup final between Perpignan and Toulouse at Lansdowne Road, Dublin, on May 24.

Kaunas 0 Celtic 4

NEW random checks on doctors by the Irish Medical Council (IMC) must be underpinned by legislation, the Patient Focus lobby group insisted yesterday.