AS exercises in optimism go, the decision – inevitably over-ridden – that an accountancy firm centrally involved in the Siteserv deal — KPMG — should lead an inquiry into that sale was on a par with one of Sepp Blatter’s move-along, nothing-to-see-here fantasies. 

Kerry won last year’s All-Ireland title without the services of Colm Cooper, the most sublimely gifted footballer in the country. Think about that.

Fifa whistleblower Chuck Blazer has said he and others took bribes for South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup, in a testimony published by the United States Department of Justice.

Barcelona are heading into Saturday’s Champions League final against Juventus with optimism at sky-high levels among blaugrana fans, as a season which at one point seemed set for crisis looks increasingly likely to end in glorious historic success.

Qatar World Cup organisers insist the crisis at FIFA will not affect their preparations for the tournament in 2022.

IF the risk that such major sponsors as Visa, Coca-Cola, and McDonald’s might withdraw Fifa funding failed to concentrate Sepp Blatter’s mind, the threat of an FBI probe into his murky past has certainly succeeded judging by his sudden resignation as president of football’s world governing body. 

Concerns that up to 1,000 children may have been “trafficked” to the US from the Tuam were raised in 2012, a college student who got seven A1s in the Leaving Certificate believes the system is stacked against the students and O' Connell leaves Munster with IRFU blessing. These are some of the latest and most read news stories on irishexaminer.com this morning.

“Think this is bad for Blatter? Could be a lot worse for Qatar.”

There were cheers in Abbotstown yesterday evening with FAI chief executive John Delaney describing events at Fifa headquarters in Zurich as a “good day for football”.

"Poor Sepp Blatter," wrote John Cleese on Twitter last Friday. "Just a couple of hundred rotten apples, and he has to carry the can".

There’s a story that perhaps starts to indicate just how much Sepp Blatter thought of his role at Fifa, and just how unprecedented and unexpected yesterday’s news was.

It’s the start of summer again, and it feels distinctly like we’ve all been here before, at this very point, it’s more like déjà vu than just another year.

The newly-arrived Irish J1 students have been a sight to behold in Queens and the Bronx over the last few days.

Munster Rugby chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald expects Paul O’Connell to make a final decision on his next career step in the coming fortnight, having today announced that the Irish captain will be released from his IRFU Munster contract following the Rugby World Cup.

Ryan Moore will partner plunge horse Giovanni Canaletto in the Investec Derby at Epsom on Saturday.

Rob Kearney says the Ireland squad are desperate to give Paul O’Connell a ‘fairytale’ send-off by winning the Rugby World Cup.

Nigel Carolan may be in charge of the Irish U20s at a world championship for the first time but the Galwayman has been involved with enough underage national sides to know they face a tough test against Argentina today, 3.30pm (live on TG4).

He may not have enjoyed his two days’ play at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open but Rory McIlroy had got his missed cut out of his system by Sunday to declare the tournament he hosted an incredible success.

Leinster ace claims Ireland were ‘lucky’ to win back-to-back Six Nations on points difference

The weather may have made it feel more like January than June for Royal Ascot trials day at Naas yesterday, but there were plenty of clues on offer for those who braved the wind and rain, not least in the shape of Anthem Alexander.