Liverpool 0 Real Betis 0

Support for goal-shy Peter Crouch is still rock solid at Liverpool, with fellow striker Djibril Cisse claiming he knows just how the England man feels.

A suicide car bomber killed 21 people in northern Iraq yesterday after insurgents lured police to the scene by shooting an officer, officials said.

A suicide car bomber attacked a police patrol today on a busy commercial street, killing at least 17 people and wounding 26, officials said.

The tradition of national anthems being played before international matches is under threat after FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested they could be banned to avert crowd trouble.

Waterford manager Justin McCarthy will have to make do without the services of Ken McGrath until the end of March following a hefty suspension for the 2002 and 2004 All-Star.

Eddie Hobbs, well-known as the presenter of TV show Rip-Off Republic, has reacted angrily to the “shocking” news that car dealerships in Ireland are allegedly inflating prices.

Wigan 2 Bolton 0

A Labour TD who helped blow the whistle on corruption in An Garda Siochana in Donegal was today ordered to reveal details about his trusted informer.

The fall-out between Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger looks set to rumble on into the New Year after descending into virtual farce over a Christmas card.

Alex McLeish refused to concede he has taken charge of his final Bank of Scotland Premier League game as manager of Rangers as the club slipped further into crisis.

Tottenham 3 Sunderland 2

Aston Villa 1 Manchester City 1

Newport Gwent Dragons 31 Leinster 18

Egypt striker Mido is unrepentant despite being banned for six months by his own football federation for a touchline row with Pharaohs’ coach Hassan Shehata.

Turkey are set to take on the most powerful man in world football to fight the severe punishments imposed for the violent clashes after November’s World Cup play-off defeat against Switzerland.

Turkey’s sports minister accused FIFA of leaning too heavily on president Sepp Blatter’s version of events and vowed to challenge the severe punishment doled out after violence marred November’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

FIFA have ordered Turkey to play their next six competitive matches behind closed doors and on neutral ground as punishment for the violence which marred their World Cup play-off against Switzerland.

Chelsea star Didier Drogba fired the Ivory Coast into the African Nations Cup final as they overcame Nigeria 1-0 in Alexandria today.

Tom Voyce is set to make his first RBS 6 Nations start on Saturday after Josh Lewsey was ruled out of England’s trip to face Italy in Rome with a shoulder injury.