FIFA say they have made a “final offer” to Newcastle of €1.48m in compensation for Michael Owen’s injury at the World Cup – six times less than the club are claiming from the game’s world governing body.

Jonathan Sexton may be enjoying a fine season at Leinster but the Dubliner admitted he still suffers when he thinks back to his performance at the 2011 World Cup.

In this morning’s non-Olympic programme at the Rowing World Cup in Poznan Sinéad Jennings and Orlagh Duddy performed best of the six Irish lightweight single scullers in action, with both of them progressing to this afternoon’s lightweight women’s single (LW1x) ‘A’ final.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has warned his former Munster players that beating New Zealand will only make it harder for Ireland as they build towards next year’s World Cup in Japan.

POLICE in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand arrested more than 5,000 people in a co-ordinated swoop against illegal football betting during the World Cup, Interpol said yesterday.

A RED CARD campaign will be launched today to stop forced prostitution at this summer’s World Cup in Germany.

ITALY coach Marcello Lippi said winning the World Cup was the most satisfying moment of his life.

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Robbie Deans has been sacked as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ Test series defeat to the British and Irish Lions, according to reports in the Australian press.

THOMOND PARK is set to stage its second international soccer friendly after it was announced yesterday that the Republic of Ireland will face World Cup hosts South Africa in a friendly on Tuesday, September 8.

Ireland have been challenged to make a statement during their three-Test series in South Africa and lay down a marker for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Eddie O’Sullivan insists his side’s two-match tour of Argentina will not be an anti-climax, despite leaving a clutch of first-choice players at home.

Munster flanker Denis Leamy insists there is little danger of Ireland repeating the failings of 2007 by being undercooked for the World Cup.

England’s hopes of staging the 2018 World Cup have been boosted at the very start of a four-day inspection of their bid, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitting it would be “easy” to stage the tournament in the country.

England midfielder David Beckham last night equalled Bobby Moore’s record for caps by an outfield player – but he refuses to be compared to the country’s World Cup hero.