Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has spoken of his relief after escaping a ban for baring his backside at Everton fans and expressed regret at his actions.

Ireland are sweating on the fitness of captain Brian O’Driscoll after the Leinster centre suffered a hamstring injury in yesterday’s 19-9 victory over Wales.

Leinster 13 Edinburgh 6

Eddie O’Sullivan insists Ireland will be ready for an early onslaught from Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash at Lansdowne Road.

Floodwaters caused by heavy rains poured into two coal mines in a town in eastern China, leaving 181 miners trapped and feared dead, government officials said today.

Roy Keane has revealed he is two signings away from getting his Sunderland squad exactly the way he wants it as he looks to extend his side’s unbeaten start at Birmingham tonight.

Gardaí in Donegal used licensing laws to harass a publican, a solicitor claimed today.

Sheffield United are “considering the findings with professional advisors” after an arbitration panel dismissed their claims against the Premier League over the Carlos Tevez affair.

Celtic star Neil Lennon today claimed that the Scottish champions were facing Barcelona at the best possible time.

CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon will contest the UEFA Cup final at Sporting’s own Jose Alvalade Stadium.

Clare 1-20 Wexford 0-12

The Scottish Football Association today agreed to Hearts’ request to postpone the hearing into their controversial comments made in the wake of the Andy Davis affair.

Wales 32 Ireland 20

A Syrian inmate at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison told a court martial today that US army Specialist Charles Graner was the primary torturer who laughed while physically abusing him and threatened to kill him more than once.

Chelsea today strongly denied claims of racist abuse by Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o in the latest controversy between the two clubs.

The Football Association were on Monday weighing up whether to start an investigation into Jose Mourinho’s controversial gesture during Chelsea’s Carling Cup final success.

Munster U21 24 Penn State 10

Didier Drogba’s double put champions Chelsea ahead at the break against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

Italy’s Milan clubs looked in good shape at the midway stage of their Champions League quarter-finals after Wednesday’s first-leg fixtures tonight.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman is confident his players will respond to his stinging appraisal of Saturday’s defeat by Everton when they run out at Anfield tonight.