STEVE BRUCE has revealed he attempted to persuade David Beckham to join Sunderland on loan last season.

MANCHESTER UNITED defender Nemanja Vidic was forced to appeal to Serbia fans for calm as they rioted during his side’s embarrassing 1-0 friendly defeat by New Zealand in Klagenfurt on Saturday night.

ARGENTINA coach Diego Maradona is keen to sign a new contract – so long as he is allowed to retain his entire backroom staff.

NELSON Mandela’s grandchildren were held up by gunmen following the South African leader’s 92nd birthday party, it emerged yesterday.

RYAN GIGGS maintains he is still hungry for success - and refuses to accept Chelsea have left Manchester United behind in English football’s power battle.

FAI chief executive John Delaney identified Croke Park as the Association’s first choice alternative venue while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.

RUSSIA have confirmed Guus Hiddink will take over as their national coach after the World Cup.

Jonah Lomu could feature for one of Ireland’s provinces in his bid to return to full fitness.

BARCELONA last night agreed to terminate the contract of Brazilian superstar Rivaldo, sparking a chase for his signature.

THE tradition of national anthems being played before international matches is under threat after FIFA president Sepp Blatter suggested they could be banned to avert crowd trouble.

HARRY REDKNAPP and Clive Woodward yesterday spoke out in a bid to end continued speculation surrounding their relationship.

BOLTON chairman Phil Gartside has claimed he has received a fax from Rivaldo stating the Brazilian legend wants to complete a move to the Reebok Stadium.

ANDY ROBINSON last night refused to rule new England captain Jonny Wilkinson out of next month’s Twickenham Tests - despite England’s World Cup hero suffering fresh injury misery.

THE upcoming Rugby World Cup brings to mind the Fields of Athenry reverberating around Lansdowne. Written, of course, by that master songwriter Pete St John, who I last saw in Dublin protesting against the proposed motorway through Tara.

THE president of top German soccer club TSV 1860 Munich was detained yesterday on suspicion of taking a bribe in connection with the construction of the city’s new stadium, state prosecutors in Bavaria said.

CHELSEA defender Robert Huth has been included in Germany’s squad for the 2006 World Cup hosts’ December tour of south-east Asia.

WANT-AWAY Wolves striker Henri Camara could find himself barred from international football should he fail to return to Molineux for pre-season training.

TERRY VENABLES is set to return Down Under after signing a one-year deal to coach Newcastle in the new Australian Premier League.

THE public became familiar with “metatarsal” bones after English soccer star David Beckham fractured one of his in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup.

PIERLUIGI COLLINA’S continuation as a Serie A referee was confirmed yesterday when he was included on the officials list for next season.