It was a dark day for Tayto crisps as the famed spud failed to get out of their group.

MIKE TINDALL was last night reinstated in England’s elite player squad and had a £25,000 fine reduced to £15,000 after an appeal against the punishment meted out for his off-field World Cup behaviour.

Phil Taylor is targeting his third UK Open title as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’ gets underway at Bolton's Reebok Stadium this weekend.

Sven-Goran Eriksson today insisted Wayne Rooney is “injury free” and now just needs to obtain match fitness before he plays in the World Cup.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has insisted he will shake hands with Sunderland manager Roy Keane when the two clubs meet in a Coca-Cola Championship clash at Molineux on Friday evening.

A man and a woman questioned about the murders of six men who were shot dead as they watched the 1994 World Cup in a pub were tonight released without charge.

Marcello Lippi will consider his Italy future over the coming days – but the indications are he will stay on after leading the Azzurri to World Cup glory.

Ireland and Leinster captain Brian O'Driscoll has signed a new contract that will keep him in Ireland at least until the end of the Rugby World Cup in 2007, it was announced today.

German referee Markus Merk has explained how his self-imposed exile from refereeing has been ended following the intervention of a fan.

Rio Ferdinand has given a ringing endorsement of Michael Owen’s importance to England’s World Cup bid and is convinced the striker will eventually become his country’s record goalscorer.

Sven-Goran Eriksson threw a three-pronged strikeforce into today’s World Cup qualifier against Wales at Old Trafford, with Wayne Rooney in behind Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe.

West Ham defender Malky Mackay has ruled himself out of the World Cup qualifying double header with Scotland.

Australia skipper George Gregan was relieved that the holders managed to get off to a winning start in the World Cup.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will decide tomorrow lunchtime whether Steven Gerrard can play any part in the World Cup qualifier against Austria.

The Northern Irish football club Linfield has announced that it is seeking legal advice after Irish international Roy Keane described the team’s supporters as "bigoted".

Sven-Goran Eriksson has confirmed his determination to lead England's Euro 2004 qualification bid.

Jerzy Engel has been sacked following Poland's poor showing at the World Cup.

Ronaldo today began the recovery process aimed at getting close to fitness for the World Cup final as he defiantly shut out the painful memories of his struggle against France four years ago.

Luis Felipe Scolari said he was never really concerned about Ronaldo's thigh injury during the game against Turkey.

Zimbabwean cricketers Andy Flower and Henry Olonga have pleaded for an end to human rights abuses in their country before launching their World Cup campaign.