Premier League switch off football for Setanta

The sword that has been hanging threateningly over Setanta's head finally fell tonight after the Premier League cut off the Irish broadcaster's main football lifeline.

The failure to pull off a last-gasp rescue package led to Setanta defaulting on the balance of a £30m (€35.45m) payment to the Premier League, who terminated their contract for 46 live matches next season with immediate effect.