The war of words between Roy Keane and Jack Warner has intensified with the FIFA vice-president making a personal attack on the Sunderland manager, after the Irishman had called him “a clown”.

FIFA have confirmed they have warned the Polish authorities the country's two World Cup qualifiers next month will be forfeited unless the government reinstates the football association by October 6.

Frank Lampard seems certain to be fit to face Andorra when England begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in Barcelona on Saturday.

World Cup-winning former Australia captain Nick Farr-Jones believes it will be almost impossible to convince European rugby authorities to embrace the controversial Experimental Law Variations.

Former Sunderland and Manchester City manager Peter Reid is set to be unveiled as the new coach of Thailand at the end of the month.

Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase of the World Cup were in danger of being shattered after the first game as Patrick Mboma scored the 28th goal of his international career to give Cameroon the half-time lead.

Having watched the opening two games from a distance, Irish coach Joe Schmidt is due in Georgia today to run the rule over remaining candidates for Ireland’s World Cup campaign.

William Porterfield, one of five in the squad set to take part in a third World Cup for Ireland, will lead the same group of players named last month for the training camp and tri-series in Dubai against fellow qualifiers Scotland and Afghanistan.

OFF-TRADE sales of Magners are up by 15% in the year to date, according to latest industry figures.

FORMER Argentina boss Diego Maradona has targeted a return to management with Aston Villa.

THE French Football Federation (FFF) has called five players to appear before its disciplinary committee to discuss the behaviour of the national team during the World Cup.

MANAGER Noel King has hailed the national U17 women’s team as the best in Ireland in any code after they secured a 1-0 victory over Canada in the FIFA World Cup on Thursday night.

THEO WALCOTT insists he won’t listen to his critics and has blamed his poor form this season on a horrendous run of injuries.

SWITZERLAND, who face France in a potentially decisive 2006 World Cup qualifier in October, have shrugged off the return of Zinedine Zidane to the French side.

THE Football Association of Ireland would be €2 million better off a year by the building of a National Stadium.

THE strength in depth of Ireland cricket will be tested over the coming weeks after the announcement yesterday that stalwart all-rounder Andre Botha may have to undergo a second operation on his right ankle.

MARCO TARDELLI will swap the Irish dugout for the red and black of Longford Town when he plays in this evening’s Sean Prunty Testimonial game at Flancare Park.

THIS morning 30 young Irishmen will wake up in Bordeaux. Like so many millions of Irish people before them they will wake in a foreign place, their hearts full of hope, their ambitions fervently shared by everyone they left behind at home.