FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke has defended the organisation’s rankings which has placed England fourth in the world and Brazil 11th – but admitted the system can sometimes appear to be “not very logical”.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden revealed how the summer trip to South America has taken on added importance with results counting towards the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

ASTON VILLA boss Martin O’Neill yesterday got his man when he clinched a £12million (€14m) swoop for England winger Stewart Downing.

Fifa is facing the prospect of losing two of its biggest sponsors after airline Emirates decided not to renew its contract while electronics giant Sony consider ending its links with the world governing body.

Rory McIlroy will be Europe’s talisman at next week’s Ryder Cup and then go on to become the sixth player to complete the career grand slam,according to Gary Player.

Two detectives from Pakistan are helping investigate the mysterious murder of the country’s World Cup cricket coach after Jamaican police failed to make a breakthrough after more than three weeks, a security official has said.

Manchester City forward Nicolas Anelka claims there is no dispute between him and France coach Raymond Domenech.

Wales coach Steve Hansen has warned that rugby could miss a vital opportunity to sell itself to the rest of the world if the enthusiastic part-timers cannot close in on the elite professionals.

Scotland, Ireland and Japan have all been drawn in Pool A.

Wales appear on course to select from strength for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Ireland.

Donncha O’Callaghan is predicting an epic duel between opensides Sean O’Brien and Sam Warburton at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday.

Facing genuine world stars like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid can only help to improve Ireland's cricketers, according to captain Trent Johnston.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is set to pursue legal action against the News of the World for a breach of confidence after his meeting with an undercover reporter in Dubai.

HAVING visited Carton House in recent weeks, where the Ireland rugby team has been stationed for its pre-World Cup training, I can say this.

FAI chief Fran Rooney has announced that the Republic of Ireland will start its friendly fixtures for 2004 with a game against Brazil at Lansdowne Road on February 18.

Introducing the first annual competition for the most outrageous dives in world football - the Fallon D’Floor award.