Cristiano Ronaldo has denied making the widely-publicised comments attacking Chelsea duo Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko.

Betfred has extended its backing of the Cheltenham Gold Cup for a further three years.

Bord Bia is to take the place of Aer Lingus as one of the main sponsors for the Ryder Cup 2006.

Football Association chairman David Bernstein has leapt to the defence of referee Howard Webb following a sustained attack on the official in the wake of Mario Balotelli’s violent conduct charge.

WASPS winger Paul Sackey has demanded extra tackling practice this week to prepare him for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final clash with Leicester wrecking-ball Alesana Tuilagi.

Jose Mourinho should be sent to prison over his treatment of Bastian Schweinsteiger, according to a member of world players' union FifPro.

SPRINGBOK coach Jake White believes that beating the All Blacks would be like winning the World Cup.

Graham Shaw says the lure of his “dream role” in New Zealand was too good to turn down, as he leaves behind a World Cup silver-medal- winning team for the world number six Blacksticks.

UEFA president Michel Platini has urged caution over the growing use of plastic pitches for top-level domestic and international matches.

George Burley will find out today if the Scottish Premier League will grant his request to cancel the league fixtures immediately prior to the World Cup qualifier in Norway on August 12.

AT last, the phoney war is over. To date, the World Cup has provided a series of mismatches, lacking in serious competition.

By Steve Black, Saitama

Ireland's Aileen Reid and Bryan Keane will be looking to build on promising starts to their season tomorrow as the international triathlon season starts in Auckland.

FRANKIE SHEAHAN’S legal team is hopeful that the Munster and Ireland hooker will have a two-year doping ban overturned when his appeal against the sentence is heard on September 1 next.

Former Ireland stopper Packie Bonner has revealed his long-time friend, Netherlands goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek, had planned Tim Krul’s decisive late entrance into Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final.

Cesc Fabregas dedicated his World Cup triumph to Arsenal – but his future with the north London giants remains shrouded in mystery.

JASON ROBINSON keeps trying to push thoughts of World Cup celebration out of his mind as he prepares to bring one of rugby’s most brilliant careers to a close.

PAVEL Nedved has announced he will retire from international football following the Czech Republic’s friendly clash with Serbia tonight.

Away from the glitz and glamour of Costa do Sauipe, protests rage at the inequality encapsulated by the World Cup in Brazil — but few will listen to these grievances

Brazilian international defender Juliano Belletti has joined Spanish League side Villarreal.