The risk of an outbreak of dengue fever during the upcoming soccer World Cup in Brazil is serious enough to warrant a high alert in three of the 12 host cities, according to an early warning system for the disease.

Bayern Munich have ruled out the possibility of Owen Hargreaves being sold during the January transfer window.

A heel injury will keep defender Per Mertesacker out of Germany´s third-place match against Portugal.

Oleg Blokhin has resigned as coach of Ukraine.

England’s top referee Graham Poll has been disciplined for an incident which occurred at a pre-season training camp for officials.

Serbia international Ognjen Koroman has returned to Portsmouth on a season-long loan from Russian club Terek Grozny.

John Terry was today named the new captain of England.

A surge in revenues from big-spending telephone punters helped Ladbrokes overcome a dip in profits at its UK betting shops today.

Ulster centre Jonny Bell has been forced to withdraw from the Ireland squad for the World Cup.

Irish rugby was today left reeling by the tragic death of 18-year-old John McCall.

Leinster coach Matt Williams and his Ulster counterpart, Alan Solomons, have both been short-listed as possible replacements for Scotland coach Ian McGeechan.

Tottenham have signed Japanese international Kazuyuki Toda, subject to the midfielder passing a medical over the weekend.

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Republic of Ireland International Jason McAteer is hoping to complete a transfer to Sunderland later this week.

Fifa have confirmed that the eight seeded countries would be hosts Japan and South Korea, France, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Republic of Ireland and Man Utd skipper Roy Keane looks set to miss today's crunch Premiership clash with table-topping Leeds Utd at Old Trafford.

Jack Conan will miss the 2020 Six Nations after surgery on the foot injury that ended his World Cup early.