The key stories developing today

James McClean has added his name to the growing list of people calling on the FAI to abandon the planned Nations League games against Israel in the autumn.

McClean went public on his Instagram account with his opposition to the away game in late September, probably in Budapest, and the home fixture at the Aviva Stadium in October.

The Derry-born former Ireland player also had a go at the FAI as he released his views on the same day that Sinn Fein voiced their support for the boycotting of the two games.

The Irish Mirror reports that McClean wrote: “You can write every letter, sign a million petitions, protest every day of the week but it will be like pissing into the wind for the sheer fact that there is not a backbone within the FAI.

“It’s a tough one in fairness for the players and I get it, it’s an opportunity to play a football game for your country, that being said I can’t see too many if any objecting to the game being played anyways, the decision should be taken out of their hands.

“Simply the game should never be going ahead, if there is one country that should recognise oppression and the turmoil that brings then it’s Ireland.. although with the decision makers in this country you’d be mistaken to think we ever had any history of it.

“There’s my thoughts for what it’s worth, have a great day.”

McClean’s remarks also came 24 hours after the Stop The Game group issued a public letter calling on the FAI to withdraw from the Israel fixtures with Brian Kerr, Louise Quinn, Kneecap, Paul Weller and Christy Moore among those to sign.

Shamrock Rovers captain and PFAI chair Roberto Lopes signed the letter and said: “We have to stop the game. As players and fans, our natural instinct is always to get out there and compete, but this is a moment where we need to look at the bigger picture.

“We can’t ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration.

“Ireland has an opportunity here to lead - to be a pioneer and do what others won’t. We need to be brave enough to say enough is enough. We can’t just stand by. Please, stop the game.”

Read the full story on the irishmirror here.

He may be favourite to land the manager’s job on a full-time basis but Michael Carrick would still like clarity around his Manchester United future.

Carrick has steered United into the Champions League after a run of 10 wins in 14 games in charge after his appointment as interim boss in January.

The club’s hierarchy will make an announcement on their next boss after the final game of the season at Brighton on May 24th but Carrick remains in the dark according to a report in the Irish Sun.

“Listen, clarity is important,” Carick said. “I think moving forward, it’s at the end of the season where I think we’ve finished strong, put ourselves in a good position.

“And obviously the situation of my role and what it looks like moving forward, I think it’s just the natural time. It was always going to be spoken about towards the end of the season, if not the end of the season.

“So nothing has really changed, to be honest. We have eyes on finishing the season strongly as well. So I understand the question, I understand the timing of it.

“But from my point of view, right at this stage, it’s just putting the boys in a place to finish the season strongly. And then, as I’ve said all along, I’m calm about it, it’ll get sorted out when it’s going to get sorted out. It’s out of my hands, so we’ll see what happens.”

Read the story on the thesun.ie here.

Birthday boy Luis Enrique has described Paris St Germain;s Champions League semi-final defeat of Bayern Munich as a ‘gift’ as he looks forward to a final date with his old mate Mikel Arteta in Budapest.

The Irish Examiner reports on Enrique’s reaction to the win ahead of his 56th birthday on Friday.

“Good memories,” said Enrique. “We could leave the match with a lot of intensity. The defence were better than the attack. The character we showed against a team like Bayern is so positive. We’re so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row.

“It was very intense. Very difficult. They play football at the highest level. Both teams are similar, we love to press higher. We are very happy.

“In two days I’m going to celebrate my birthday. I’m very happy. We’re in the next phase of the competition, the final of the Champions League. We want to give our supporters that kind of gift.”

Read the story on the irishexaminer here.

US President Donald Trump is the latest voice to criticise the cost of World Cup tickets this summer - just a day after FIFA’s top dog Gianni Infantino defended the extortionate dynamic pricing model in use for the tournament.

Trump made the remarks after he was informed that the cheapest ticket for the US national team’s opening game against Paraguay is a whopping $1,120.

The Guardian reports that Trump stated: “I would certainly like to be there, but I wouldn’t pay it either, to be honest with you. If people from Queens and Brooklyn and all of the people that love Donald Trump can’t go, I would be disappointed, but, you know, at the same time, it’s an amazing success.

“I would like to be able to have the people that voted for me to be able to go.”

Read the full article on theguardian here.

Fan power has forced Liverpool to reduce a planned increase in ticket prices for the next two seasons.

The current English champions will now increase ticket prices by three per cent for next season then freeze them for the 2027-28 campaign.

The club had planned to increase prices in line with inflation for the next three seasons but have now announced the new changes following discussion with the club’s supporters board.

According to the BBC, season tickets for the Kop will cost £734.50 next season, the cheapest available, while the most expensive will cost £931 in the Main Stand.

Match day tickets next season will cost £30 in the Anfield Road Stand and £62.75 in the Main Stand.

Read the full story on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Shamrock Rovers’ World Cup bound captain Pico Lopes, Christy Moore and Brian Kerr have joined forces with a host of big names from the sporting, entertainment and business worlds to again call on the FAI to refuse to play Israel in the Nations League later this year.

The open letter from the Stop The Game movement to the FAI includes contributions from Lopes in his role as chair of the Professional Footballers Ireland players union.

Moore is the leading showbiz name on the letter which has also been signed by Francis Black, Fontaines DC, Kneecap, Paul Weller, Stephen Rea and Mary Coughlan.

The Irish Mirror reports that former Ireland manager Kerr, ex Ireland women’s team captain Louise Quinn and LOI legend Roddy Collins have also added their names to the open letter calling on the FAI to withdraw from the game in light of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine.

PFAI chair Lopes writes: “We have to stop the game. As players and fans, our natural instinct is always to get out there and compete, but this is a moment where we need to look at the bigger picture.

“We can’t ignore the humanitarian catastrophe in Palestine; the sheer loss of life there has to take precedence over any sporting consideration.

“Ireland has an opportunity here to lead - to be a pioneer and do what others won’t. We need to be brave enough to say enough is enough. We can’t just stand by. Please, stop the game.”

The Stop the Game open letter adds: “To the Football Association of Ireland, Irish fans are rightfully known across the globe as “the best fans in the world”, but with this comes a responsibility to the Irish people whom our country represents. We call upon you to refuse to participate in the two scheduled UEFA nations league games against Israel.

“Firstly, on the basis of the clear and ongoing serious breaches of UEFA & FIFA statute regarding Israeli teams playing on occupied Palestinian lands. As a member of UEFA you have a duty to upload these rules if UEFA will not.

“Secondly, on the basis of a brutal system of apartheid and acts of genocide, both of which are accepted by the Irish government. It is inconceivable that we would be willing to be silent and give cover to such crimes in the name of football.

“We call on you to ensure the Irish football team is not used to mask UEFA rules breaches, apartheid and war crimes. And to respect the call to boycott the game by the majority of players, fans and communities across Ireland.

“Last November, 93% of FAI members voted to instruct the Association to go to UEFA and call for Israel’s suspension under those statutes. We call on you to full respect and represent this mandate.

“Through your leadership and courage we show the world that whilst others may stand idly by, Ireland will not. Just as history rightly celebrates the Dunnes Stores workers during South African apartheid, the FAI will be celebrated by future generations of Irish people for doing the right thing when others did not. Yours in sport. Stop the Game.”

The Stop the Game group add: “This campaign is only beginning and we will do everything in our power to ensure Irish football is not used to give cover to apartheid and genocide.”

Read the full story on the irishmirror here.

FAI Director of Football John Martin has defended his previous actions as Shamrock Rovers CEO regarding the Michael Noonan contract issue which has emerged in recent weeks.

Speaking to the media at a briefing in the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, Martin responded to reports that parts of Noonan’s contract prompted a complaint from the player’s family to the English FA.

Rovers have since self-reported the contract issue, over a potential breach of third party ownership rules, to FIFA who won’t take any action until Noonan moves abroad with strong interest in the teenager from a number of UK clubs.

Now working as the FAI’s Director of Football, Martin reflected on the Noonan deal during his time as Hoops CEO when he sat down with the media on Wednesday according to a report in the Irish Sun.

He said: “I know Rovers have referred to FIFA and they’re looking for clarity on that. I understand nothing has come back from FIFA yet on it.

“I suppose when something does come back maybe there’s something to discuss at that stage. My views on that agreement and any agreements I made were always made in the best interest of the football club. No other way of looking at it.

“I think when I was there I gave everything I had to the job. I gave my life to the job. I think anyone who’s close to me will know that. In all cases in Rovers you just want to sign the best players. You want to hopefully sell players. In some cases my job there was to make sure we got the best players in.

“There’s probably no specifics of any player contract in Rovers, I’d give away. I did what I thought was in the best interest of the club, which was sign good players.”

The paper reports on Martin’s response when he was asked if he would do anything differently in hindsight.

He said: “I don’t know. You were there for a couple of years and I probably made hundreds if not thousands of decisions. It’s a bit of the burden of leadership. You have to make decisions all the time. That’s the role.

“Of course you look back and say maybe I might have done this different or that different across a range of different things in the club.

“I think without getting into specifics of any agreements, there’s always things you would probably do a little bit differently for sure.”

Read the story on the thesun.ie here.

Title winning former Shelbourne boss Damien Duff has admitted he may need to move abroad to resume his managerial career.

The Ireland winger and Chelsea ace spoke of his future again during an appearance as a Champions League pundit this week with his quotes carried on by The42.ie and other outlets.

The website quotes Duff as saying: “I think I have to start probably looking outside the country, because there’s not a big industry here, as we know/

“I’ve no plan. I have absolutely no plan. I’ve cut my ties with many people but there’s not a lot of jobs, football jobs, coaching jobs in the country. The longer the year has gone on… I belong on the grass. And whether it be here, the UK, or somewhere else, I don’t know.

“The most alive you’ll ever feel for me anyways is on a football pitch. When I retired, I don’t know how I got into coaching but I did and I felt even more alive coaching.”

Duff also revealed details of his recent visit to Brentford’s training ground where he observed former Ireland team-mate Keith Andrews at work as Bees boss.

“It was amazing to see such a well-run club. So it’s not rocket science to see how well they’re doing from top to bottom. Brilliant people, honest people, energy, enthusiasm, obviously real quality. It was so refreshing,” added Duff.

“The minute I walked into the building, I just thought to myself, wow! I’ve known Keith for 15 or 20 years, I’m really pleased for him because I think people were sticking the knife in even before his first game. I think at times, even in the football world, people enjoy sticking the knife in.

“But he’s done brilliant. And even speaking to people away from Keith when I was there; they love him. They’re so fond of him and they’ve been blown away by what he’s brought to the football club.”

Read the story on the42.ie here.

Graham Coughlan has been asked to drag Waterford FC off the bottom of the Premier Division after his appointment as successor to the sacked Jon Daly.

Former Newport County, Mansfield Town and Boston United manager Coughlan has agreed a deal until the end of the season with the Blues and will face St Pats in his first game in charge on Friday night.

“I’m delighted to be here at the club. The move happened very quickly, as is the life of football, but I’m excited for this opportunity,” said Coughlan as Waterford still await their first win of the season.

“We’re straight to work now, focusing towards Friday’s game against St. Patrick’s Athletic and the games to follow after that. With a busy fixture schedule ahead of us, it’s time to get our heads down and prepare properly, starting with Friday night.”

Read the full article on rte.ie here.

Arsenal pushed their Champions League earnings to €139million with their semi-final win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night - and could make it €150million if they beat PSG in the Budapest final.

The Irish Examiner reports that the Gunners can add another €11.5million to their coffers if they win the Champions League for the first time in their history on May 30th.

Read the full story on irishexaminer here.

The key stories developing today

Heimir Hallgrimsson has left the door open for Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna to make the Ireland squad sooner rather than later after taking note of Stephen Bradley’s comments over the weekend.

Hoops boss Bradley had campaigned for Arsenal bound Ozhianvuna to be called up for the upcoming training camp in Spain, which includes a friendly against Grenada, or the end of summer games at home to Qatar and away to Canada.

Ireland Head Coach Hallgrimsson didn’t include the exciting midfielder in a 21 man squad named on Tuesday for that Murcia camp which begins later this week.

But he did admit to RTE Sport afterwards that he is now aware of Bradley’s backing for the youngster to receive an Irish call and may well do just that over the coming weeks after deliberately not including League of Ireland players in this latest squad due to their ongoing match commitments.

RTE reports that in response to Bradley’s comments, Hallgrimsson said: “We’ve been watching him, of course. He hasn’t made our Under-21s yet and I surely expect him to be there soon.

“We didn’t plan to have players in season for this camp, but with bringing in so many new faces and also experienced players from our squad, we open spots for the May/June window as well.

“Victor is just a good player, even though he is young, he is just a good player. If he is ready for the first-team, we will have to wait and see. But he is a good name in the mix. If he is available, we might pick him.

“He wasn’t in the frame until I heard this last night. We didn’t plan to take players from the League of Ireland for this camp. It is not Stephen who is picking the squad, it’s me.

“We only announced 21 players today and we have a place for adding one or two players in the squad. I think he is one of the players who has a really high potential. Whether he is ready for the national first-team, we wait and see.”

Read the full story on rte here.

Robbie Keane has again insisted he is only interested in Ferencvaros and his current job in Hungary as his name continues to be linked with the likes of Celtic and Crystal Palace.

Ireland’s record goalscorer sat down for an in-depth interview with Sky Sports in Budapest which is reported on in depth by Aidan Fitzmaurice in the Irish Independent.

Ahead this Sunday’s Hungarian Cup final, Keane reacted to all the speculation and again said: “To be honest with you, it doesn’t bother me, and it never did as a player. The speculation, it must mean that you are doing something OK.

“But I can’t take my eye off the ball where I am. I think my biggest strength is that I don’t care what happens outside of me. It doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about criticism because I’m not worried about people criticising me who don’t know me. So that outside noise never affects me.

“For me, it’s just about what I’m doing right now, at this minute, and continuing to do that. Because I think if you want to be successful, you have to go into training tomorrow and you have to demand again from the players.

“You have to set the standards, you have to set the tone yourself. If the players see any weakness in the manager or ask if the manager has got the eye off the ball, they will.

“I’m happy [with] what I’m doing. Of course, winning this is great, but I still believe there’s way more and I can’t take my eye off the ball. I have to believe that I can keep going, keep pushing myself, keep motivating myself every day.

“Whether I win or lose, I still motivate myself in the morning to come to training, to make the players better, to make them believe that we’re doing something special, that we can go up against anybody and have that belief that we can win.

“I think if you have that mindset and if the players buy into you and they see that the manager has that, they’ll dive into it as well.”

Read the story on the irishindependent here.

Owen Elding remains committed to Ireland despite recent speculation about the English FA checking out the former Sligo forward now making a name at Hibs in Scotland.

And Irish boss Heimir Hallgrimsson confirmed to the media at his squad announcement on Tuesday that Elding could feature for the end of season games against Qatar and Canada if he finally receives his Irish passport.

After calling up Killian Cahill, Tayo Adaramola, Eiran Cashin, Joel Bagan, Jack Moylan, Jaden Umeh and Aidomo Emakhu for the first time for the upcoming training camp in Spain, Hallgrimsson confirmed that Elding is also close to a call.

The Irish Sun quotes the Ireland boss as saying: “I just called him this morning. So I just wanted to have his word for it. Is he committed to Ireland? 100 percent he is.

“And even though he cannot play the games against Qatar and Canada, we might even bring him in, just to have him around the squad in May, June. But he’s committed to us, so I’m not worried about that one.”

The report adds that Hallgrímsson has only selected players for the Murcia trip - and a friendly against Grenada - who are out of season while Jimmy Dunne, Bosun Lawal and Gavin Bazunu were ruled out by injury.

Sammie Szmodics, Harvey Vale, Robbie Brady and Jack Taylor are absent on the advice of the medical staff at their clubs.

Hallgrimsson is expected to name an almost entirely different squad for the home game against Qatar at the end of May and the game in Canada in early June.

Read the story on thesun.ie here.

History chasing Hearts can become regular title contenders in Scotland according to Celtic manager Martin O’Neill as he prepares for this weekend’s big game against Rangers.

O’Neill is still doing his best to stop Hearts and their fairytale bid to become the first non Old Firm team since 1985 to lift the Scottish crown.

But after analysing their big 2-1 win against Rangers in Edinburgh on Sunday, O’Neill has tools the media that Hearts now have the resources to challenge Celtic and Rangers for the league on a regular basis thanks to the financial backing of Brighton owner Tony Bloom.

BBC Sport reports O’Neill as saying: “Why not? Absolutely. Tony Bloom has invested in Brighton and he has also done the same at Hearts. If you’re looking at it from a neutral viewpoint, which I certainly am not, but if you were, then there’s been excitement this season because Hearts have come up, thrown down the gauntlet to the two big teams and I think that can only be good for the Premiership.”

Read the full article on bbcsport here.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta guided Arsenal to their first Champions League final in 20 years then described the win over Atletico Madrid as ‘amazing’.

BBC Sport carries all the Arteta quotes from his post-match intervie with Amazon Prime. He said: “It’s an amazing night to live this kind of moment with the players and everyone at the club, it’s an incredible feeling. It makes sense with all of the things we do and we go through and I see so many happy faces and proud of what we’re doing.”

Read the full story on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Former Ireland star Enda Stevens has called on Republic boss Heimir Hallgrimsson to give youth a chance when he names his squad today for the upcoming training camp in Spain that includes a friendly against Grenada.

Capped 26 times by his country, Stevens is now back for a second spell at Shamrock Rovers where he is playing alongside talented teenagers including Victor Ozhianvuna, Michael Noonan and Adam Brennan.

Hoops boss Stephen Bradley has repeatedly called on Hallgrimsson to bring 17-year-old Ozhianvuna in his plans for the Murcia trip or the end of season games at home to Qatar and Canada while Bohs head coach Alan Reynolds wants to see his midfielder Dawson Devoy involved in next week’s training camp.

Stevens, now 35, is happy to back the calls for youth to be given a chance when Hallgrimsson goes public with his first post-Prague squad today.

He told the Irish Mirror: “They [Rovers’ teenagers] do seem like men. And the way they approach it, they are confident, they are gamey, they are not shy, they don’t play within themselves.

“They stick their chests out, they want to go out there and be the best players on the pitch, and it’s excellent to see. You have got to work for your opportunity. You look at Vic, you look at Michael and Adam as well, and they are putting in the performances to get recognition.

“Why not give them a chance? There is no World Cup now, there are a lot of games to be played; friendlies and that. So you might as well give them a chance and see how they get on.”

Read the full story on irishmirror here.

FAI Director of Football and former Shamrock Rovers CEO John Martin is set to be asked by the media to publicly explain the contractual issues that prompted Michael Noonan’s family to make a complaint to the English FA.

The Sunday Times reports, via its Ireland football correspondent Paul Rowan, that Martin is scheduled to host a briefing on the FAI’s strategy for football at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.

Rowan writes that Martin will also be given the opportunity by Irish football journalists to clarify his role in the contract saga involving teenage Shamrock Rovers striker Noonan.

The paper first reported earlier this year that Noonan’s family had made an official complaint to the English FA re his English agent David Moss over transfer details included in the contract which came to their attention after a move to German side Hoffenheim failed to materialise.

Shamrock Rovers have since self-reported details of the contract to FIFA with the initial report in the Sunday Times prompting a statement from the club around the deal agreed between Moss and Martin, in his then role as CEO.

The initial Rovers statement said: “When the chair and the board became aware of these agreements in August 2025, independent legal advice was sought, and Fifa was proactively engaged to discuss. The process with Fifa is ongoing and the FAI has been notified.”

The English FA confirmed to the Sunday Times that they had received the complaint from the Noonan family but said it is now a matter for the FAI. Both the FAI and FIFA declined to make any comment to the paper.

Read the story on the sundaytimes here.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will fight on in the title race despite Monday night’s 3-3 Premier League at Everton, a result that hands the initiative back to table toppers Arsenal.

A 97th minute leveller from Jeremy Doku may just have kept City in contention but Guardiola was honest enough in his post match interview with Sky Sports to concede favouritism to Arsenal.

“Really good performance,” Guardilla told Sky Sports. “We played an outstanding first half. It was so difficult with their physicality.

“Second-half, they made a step up. We didn’t have as much control and we gave away the goal. After that they come back and make a proper English game, so aggressive in the duels.

“We take the point and until it’s over, we’re going to continue. Everton away is always difficult and I give credit to them for their composure and aggression.

“It’s better than a loss. We played to win. It just shows what the team are. We tried and we have done it. It’s not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no.

“We have to do it in our four games that we have in the Premier League. It will be quite similar against Brentford. We will see what happens.”

Read the story on skysports here.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has labelled their defence of the Premier League title as ‘unacceptable’ and urged his team-mates to ensure Champions League qualification before their poor season comes to a close.

Beaten 3-2 at Manchester United on Sunday, Liverpool can still confirm CL qualification with four points from their remaining three league games against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford.

The BBC reports Van Dijk as saying post the United defeat: “I’m not here to make excuses. It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season, and it’s tough. We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever.

“We have to work and turn this around and make sure that next season these things don’t happen. It’s not Liverpool. But we have three games left and the realisation has to come from ourselves, as a group and as players, to make sure that we are in the Champions League because of the impact of it for the financial side for the club.

“But also because we want to be playing against the best teams in Europe. It’s not easy. But we keep going.”

Read the full article on bbcsport here.

Saints boss Stephen Kenny wasn’t a happy camper as he left Sligo’s Showgrounds with a point in the bag and question marks over the penalty decision that led to the equaliser from Archie Meekison.

Rovers scored from the spot just before half-time to cancel out Kian Leavy’s opener but Kenny was aggrieved by the decision of referee Marc Lynch to penalise Luke Turner for his clash with Carl McHugh.

Kenny told the Irish Sun: “The game has turned on that decision. The lads feel a bit let down by it as it totally changed the flow of the game.

“We probably could have had two frees of our own in the lead-up. They were blatant ones. The Sligo player is on the ground when Luke makes contact with him. We feel it’s harsh.”

Shamrock Rovers were the big winners on Monday as they beat Drogheda 4-1 in Tallaght. That result moves them three points clear of Pats at the top of table with Bohs scoring late in a 2-2 draw with Shels to stay in third spot.

Read the full story on thesun.ie here.

The key stories developing today

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has offered Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson some more advice - get Victor Ozhianvuna into the squad for the end of season training camp and internationals.

Hallgrimsson is due to meet the media in Dublin on Tuesday when he will name his first summer squad for a training camp and friendly against Grenada in Spain this month - with this squad to be made up of non top flight players due to club commitments.

The Ireland coach will then decide who stays in the squad and joins his senior internationals for a Dublin friendly against Qatar at the end of the month followed by a trip to play Canada at the start of June.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s home Premier Division game against Waterford, Bradley talked up the international potential of 17-year-old Ozhianvuna who has already committed to Arsenal in a €2million deal which will see him move to London as an 18-year-old next January.

Bradley told the Irish Mirror: “I’d take Victor into the squad tomorrow. I think he’s a special talent, I really do. We haven’t got anything like him at any age in the central area of the pitch - from the senior team down.

“I’m not saying he’s a mainstay but I think he’s a serious talent and there’s nothing like him [in] every aspect. We have very similar midfielders from the senior team down. Very similar.

“We could go through them, player for player, they’re all very similar in how they play the game and the attributes they have. They’re good players of course, they’re playing at good levels, Premier League, some of them [in the] Championship. But we have nothing like [Ozhianvuna]. Nothing.

“I’m not getting carried away. You have to be careful because he’s young and it’s a lot. He’s so young. But we have nothing like it.”

Bradley also revealed that veteran striker Rory Gaffney could soon return to the Rovers squad as he recovers from an infection picked up following surgery on a long term achilles injury.

Read the full story on irishmirror here.

Irish Under 21 winger Trent Kone-Doherty has confirmed that his hunger for first team football persuaded him to swap Liverpool for Norwegian side in the last transfer window.

The Derry born 19-year-old has lifted the lid on why he chose to take the unconventional route to senior football with the Norwegian side rather than await more first team opportunities under Arne Slot.

“I was ready to start playing senior football, but at that moment I wasn’t getting that at Liverpool,” said Kone-Doherty in an exclusive interview with the Irish Independent’s Sean O’Connor.

“For me, it was about going somewhere where I could get some experience in senior football. I felt like it was the next step for me. Once you get a taste for the first team, it makes you eager for more.

“It wasn’t an easy decision. My whole life was in Liverpool. I had three years there, but I think it was best for my career. I had to make the decision in the end. You just have to be brave sometimes and take control of your career.

“It can be tough to break through, especially when you’re at those top clubs. It takes a lot of patience. Sometimes, you just need to make a decision.”

Read the story on the independent here.

The English FA are set to step up their interest in former Sligo Rovers winger Owen Elding, currently making a big impression at Hibernian in the Scottish Premier Division as he awaits his Irish passport.

Elding was due to attend a ceremony to take up Irish citizenship recently but that was cancelled at the last minute and he is still waiting to complete the paperwork that will make him eligible for Jim Crawford’s Irish Under 21 squad.

Now the Irish Sun reports, via London based reporter Charlie Wyett, that England are keen to bring Elding into their underage set-up after he marked his move to HIbs and Scottish football with three goals in his first nine appearances.

The 20-year-old is the son of former Stockport and Leeds United striker Anthony Elding but qualifies for the Republic via the residency rule after moving to the country when his father signed for Sligo.

Elding played 67 games for Sligo between 2023 and 2025 and scored 16 goals before his €430,000 move to Hibernian.

Read the story on thesun.ie here.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has again insisted that Iran will play at the World Cup finals in America this summer - despite their football federation delegation missing the FIFA Congress in Canada this week due to visa issues.

Speaking after the congress, when he confirmed he will run again for the presidency, Infantino told the BBC that he has no doubt Iran will fulfill their group fixtures against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

Infantino stressed: “Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”

Read the full article on bbcsport here.

Cork born manager Brian Barry-Murphy has again been linked with a top job in English football but his Welsh employers at newly promoted Cardiff City aren’t buying into any speculation about his future.

The Wales Online website reports that Cardiff’s owners have poured cold water on reports putting Barry-Murphy in the frame to replace Scott Parker at relegated Burnley when they join the Bluebirds in the Championship next season.

Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard have also been linked with the Burnley vacancy but the website insists that Cardiff sources are adamant that Barry-Murphy will stay put.

Read the full story on walesonline here.

The key stories developing today

A former Palestine football team captain has called on the Ireland players, the Green Army and the Irish media to boycott the scheduled Nations League games against Israel in the autumn.

Imad Zatara played in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers with Palestine and won 28 caps for his country between 2004 and 2015.

With the FAI adamant that the games against Israel will go ahead, away in September and at the Aviva Stadium in early October, Zatara made the plea to scrap the game in an interview with Irish journalist Philip O’Connor.

Swedish based O’Connor has published his full interview online at www.philipoconnor.com and it is quoted extensively on the Irish Mirror website as Zatara highlights his desire for the Israel games to be nullified despite the FAI’s insistence it goes ahead.

Zatara told O’Connor: “I would like the (Irish) people to show their opinion as much as possible, and to be clear that what is happening in Palestine is not okay. It must be stopped.

“I know that sport should not be compared to war and so on, but I’m afraid sport today is more than just sport – it’s love, it’s friendship, you can reach so many more people through football.

“We have to put a stop to this together, and I think and I hope that this match can be stopped.”

With the Palestinian crisis ongoing, Zatara made a plea to the Ireland players ahead of the autumn fixtures and said: “The only thing I can say to them is not to play this game - and not just them. The TV viewers, the broadcasters, everything should be boycotted, because this has to stop.

“No-one can do everything, but if everyone does something in their power - you have the power to not play the game, we have the power to not watch it, the TV channels have the power to not show it.

“If, one after another, we all do our jobs, we can be stronger together. To just not play that game - that alone would be huge.”

Read the full story on irishmirror here.

Cork City have promoted Liam Kearney to the role of Director of Football as the club shake up their coaching department ahead of the new government funding for LOI academies.

Former City player Kearney has served as Academy Director for the past five and a half years with the Irish Examiner’s John Fallon reporting that the club will look to backfill his Academy Director vacancy with a new recruit.

“I am delighted to accept this role and firmly believe that there is much I can do as Director of Football to grow the club across all of its teams,” said Kearney.

“I have a long association with this club and care passionately about it. My experience with the Academy tells me that this club’s best years are ahead of it, and I look forward to working with the various coaching teams to build on what has been achieved to date.

“I cannot wait to get going, starting with the recruitment process for a new women’s senior manager.”

Read the story on the irishexaminer here.

Liverpool fans will get their chance to say goodbye to Mo Salah in a manner befitting his glittering Anfield career with the club reporting positive news on his hamstring injury.

Salah was forced off in the second-half of Saturday’s win against Crystal Palace with reports afterwards suggesting he could have played his last game for Liverpool before his departure this summer.

The BBC reports that Liverpool have revealed that the injury is unlikely to keep him out for the rest of the season meaning he should be fit to play for the Reds again and to lead Egypt at the World Cup finals.

A statement from the club said that the problem is a ‘minor muscle injury’ and that it is ‘anticipated’ that the forward will recover in time to feature again before leaving the club with their final game of the season at home to Brentford on May 24th.

Read the story on bbc sport here.

Iran’s World Cup future will be discussed without them at the FIFA Congress in Canada after visa issues at Toronto Airport forced their three man delegation to return home.

RTE reports that the Iranian Federation’s President Mehdi Taj, secretary general Hedayat Mombeini and his deputy Hamed Momeni had arrived with visas to participate in Thursday’s congress.

They caught the next plane home however after visa issues emerged which they blamed on Canadian immigration officials.

Iranian news agency Tasnim has claimed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised to arrange a meeting with the Iranian Federation at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.

FIFA remains adamant that Iran will play in the World Cup this summer when they are scheduled to play New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt.

Read the full article on rte here.

Cardiff City manager Brian Barry Murphy is bringing it all home as he prepares for life in the Championship next season with a summer training camp in Cork.

The Irish Examiner reports that the Bluebird will be based on Leeside in mid-July for the camp which will include two friendly games against local opposition, most likely Cork City and Cobh Ramblers.

Son of Cork GAA legend Jimmy Barry Murphy, Brian will include Irishmen Callum Robinson and Joel Bagan in his travelling squad.

Read the full story on irishexaminer here.

The key stories developing today

Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard say Arsenal are ready to make history ahead of Champions League semi-final with Atletico Madrid

Arsenal will bid to prove their Champions League credentials in Madrid tonight and show the world they are good enough to go on and lift the old European Cup when they face hosts Atletico in the first leg of their semi-final.

Manager Mikel Arteta and captain Martin Odegaard insisted at their pre-match press conference that the Gunners are ready to reach only their second even CL final and win it for the first time as they juggle Euro ambition with their Premier League bid back in England.

Asked if Arsenal can enjoy their double trophy hunt, Norwegian midfielder Odegaard responded: “How can you not enjoy it? We’re playing in probably the toughest and most competitive league in the world and we’re at the top fighting for the title.

“We’re in the semi-final in the Champions League. For me, it’s hard to understand how you can’t enjoy that.”

With only two wins in seven games behind them going into tonight’s Madrid semi-final, Arsenal will start as underdogs but don’t seem bothered.

Having reached back-to-back semi-finals for the first time, boss Arteta commented: “This is the stage that we want to be on and we have earned it through incredible work, passion and quality in the last nine months.

“Now is the moment to make a statement and show how good we are, how much we want it and make it happen. The opportunity is in front of us and we have to attack it.”

Arteta added: “I don’t take it for granted because a very short time ago, this club had seven years without the Champions League. So, in those very short periods of time, what we have achieved is remarkable. And we know the difficulty of it.

“It’s a massive privilege to be here again, two years in a row, in the semi-finals of the Champions League, representing our club.

“What an opportunity. We are going to grab it with both hands. You are going to see a team that wants to be dominant, that wants to win it, and wants to start and decide the tie on Wednesday.”

Atletico boss Diego Simeone meanwhile has confirmed that Arsenal are in the running to sign his €90million rated Argentina striker Julian Allvarez with PSG and Barcelona also keen.

Read the full story on sky sports here.

A former Hearts manager with an inside knowledge of Hungarian football has thrown his opinion into the Robbie Keane for Celtic debate - and Csaba Laszlo believes Champions League qualification will decide the future of the Ferencvaros boss.

Keane’s side are currently two points behind Gyor with just two games remaining in the Hungarian league season while Celtic are chasing Hearts for the Scottish title.

One time Hearts manager and Hungarian native Laszlo believes Keane could be swayed either way by the lure of Champions League football next season.

The Scottish and Irish editions of the Sun report that Laszlo said: “If the Scottish green and whites win the championship, they can start in the Champions League, which would bring significant financial income. That will fundamentally influence Keane’s future vision.”

Laszlo confirmed that former Celtic captain Scott Brown met up with Keane in Budapest last week but Browne was there, alongside former Irish international Jonny Hayes, as part of a Scottish FA coaching course group.

Laszlo said: “Brown met Keane, which is not surprising, as they once played together at Celtic. He still has a good relationship with Brown, who became acquainted with Ferencvaros’ football background as a student of the UEFA Pro-licence coaching training, which is why he visited Budapest.”

Read the story on the scottish sun here.

John Stones will leave Manchester City with no regrets when his contract runs out at the end of the season and the curtain comes down on a 10 year spell that has already seen him win six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, the Club World Cup and the Uefa Super Cup.

Confirming his departure, the BBC reports that Stones said in a social media post: “It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life.

“It has been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now leaving as a man - becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player.

“I lived all my dreams out and lifted all the things that I came here to achieve. At the start of my career here I never would have thought I would be in this position. Firstly, to achieve everything but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.”

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

Irish football journalist Conor McNamara has been named as the winner of the Commentator of the Year award by the UK’s Sports Journalists’ Association.

The LImerick native finished ahead of BBC Radio 5 Live’s John Murray and Sky Sports’ Peter Drury in the voting according to the Irish Examiner.

Taking to social media, McNamara posted a video under the message; “Thanks to Sports Journalists’ Association for the Commentator of the Year award.

“Honestly so pleased just to be nominated alongside genuine heroes of mine. To win is mad stuff altogether.”

Read the full article on irishexaminer here.

Red cards await any player who covers their mouth when speaking to opponents during confrontations at this summer’s World Cup finals.

The International Football Association Board voted to introduce the new rule at their meeting ahead of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada.

The BBC reports that the meeting also ruled that players who leave the pitch in protest at a referee’s decisions could also now face a red card. This ruling comes after the ugly scenes at the Africa Cup of Nations final between Morocco and Senegal.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

James McClean could be back playing for Derry City in the League of Ireland within the next six weeks after a London surgeon allayed his retirement fears.

Plagued in recent weeks by a hip injury after his return home from Wrexham in January, McClean was worried that his career was in danger before Friday’s visit to the UK specialist.

But now, posting on social media and reported on by the Irish Mirror amongst others, McClean has revealed how an injection into the hip has given him real hope of a Candystripes return even after the same surgeon had initially told him that he ‘currently has no business being on a football pitch due to the severity of the damage to my hip’.

Post his London visit, McClean said on TikTok: “Just a quick update on the appointment with the specialist on Friday about the injury. I went and saw the doctor. It went better than I thought to be honest.

“I was expecting surgery or retirement but that wasn’t the case. He gave me a bit of hope. He gave me an injection and that should hopefully give me a wee bit of relief and in about a month to six weeks time, make me feel a wee bit like a footballer again. So it went a lot better than I thought.”

Read the full story on irishmirror here.

‘I won’t hide away from it’ – Jack Moylan eager for ‘dream’ Ireland call-up after impressing Heimir Hallgrimsson

Jack Moylan wants to go from his seat as an Aviva Stadium season ticket holder to starring on the pitch for Ireland after impressing Heimir Hallgrimsson with his stunning goal for Lincoln City in Saturday’s 4-3 win against Wycombe Wanderers.

Dubliner Moylan made the most of Hallgrimsson’s visit to Lincoln with that goal and another impressive performance as the Ireland manager prepares to name his squad for the upcoming training camp in Spain and a friendly against Grenada.

The Irish Sun reports that Moylan told BBC Lincolnshire: “I heard he was here. It’s great, fair play to him for coming over and watching matches.

“Obviously, we had such a disappointment with the country a couple of months ago, but I think the country’s on the right path. So yeah, who knows what will happen.

“I won’t hide away from it. It’s my dream to play for my country. I’ve been a season ticket holder from the age of eight, I used to go to every game with my dad.”

Moylan has scored 11 times this season already as Lincoln sealed the League One title and promotion to the Championship.

Read the story on the irishsun here.

Gavin Bazunu will miss Ireland’s training camp in Spain and the Murcia friendly against Grenada as injury has again delayed his return to international football for the first time since March 2024.

The Southampton stopper is currently on loan with Stoke City but an unspecified injury ruled him out of the loss to Portsmouth last weekend while he won’t feature at Bristol City in the final game of the Championship season this Saturday either.

According to a report in the Irish Independent, Bazunu may return in time for the June games at home to Qatar and away to Canada but he won’t be available for the Spanish training camp.

With Caoimhin Kelleher, Mark Travers and Josh Keeley also unavailable due to club commitments, Irish boss Heimir Hallgrimsson may look to Max O’Leary, Killian Cahill and Ed McGinty as goalkeeping options for the camp in Murcia.

Read the full article on the independent here.

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe and England forward Beth Mead could be the subject of a double swoop by Manchester City when their Arsenal contracts expire at the end of the season.

Tallaght native McCabe has also been linked with a move to the Women’s NWLS in America with WSL champions Chelsea also interested.

Now The Athletic is reporting that Manchester City are confident they can agree deals with the two Arsenal stars when they are free to talk to other clubs in June.

Read the full article on theathletic here.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews told the BBC after Monday night’s 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford that his team needs to match the clinical nature of their Manchester United opponents as they look to take the next step forward as a team.

Andrews also stated that his side remains in the hunt for European football next season despite going six games without a win, their longest winless run since April 2024.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has urged his side to fight fire with fire when they tackle Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Monday night game tonight.

The Bees go to Manchester looking for the win to end a run of five straight Premier League draws and seeking a first victory at the venue since 1937 and a first there since winning promotion in 2021.

“It is a special place to play football, for sure, and a special place to go, with the history of the stadium and the football club,” the Dubliner is quoted as saying by the RTE Sport website.

“I think it is just in that bracket of clubs where you want to go and really test yourself as a player - with the environment and the team that you are facing, but also the individuals that they will be coming up against.

“It is a really, really tough test for us against a team that is playing well, playing really good football. They have obviously been very, very effective in what way he (Michael Carrick) set them up over recent weeks and months.

“I just think it is a game for us that we should attack. We should embrace the challenge of it and it has been a while since we have been able to do that there.”

Read the full preview on rte here.

Kevin Moran at 70 on his iconic career, life, deaths and the one moment he would love to relive

Dublin legend and Ireland legend, Kevin Moran turns 70 on Wednesday with the spirit of a man half his age judging by a quite extraordinary interview with Roy Curtis in the Irish Mirror.

The All-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer with his beloved Dublin and a World Cup hero under Jack Charlton, Moran recalls the glory days and friendships made in an honest and charming sit-down.

And his views on reaching 70 are just wonderful. “It doesn’t bother me one iota,” he told Roy Curtis. “honestly, it means nothing. What matters is how you feel and I’m blessed that I feel great. The rest is just a number.

“We had a little celebration in Dublin last weekend. They say 70 is the new 50, but I said, ‘no, it is the new 40.’ There were a few pints and a singsong in O’Donoghue’s last Saturday with a gang of lifelong friends. That old adage about Guinness being good for you definitely has merit.”

Read the full and wide ranging interview on irishmirror here.

Stephen Kenny has joked that he may push kick-off times at Richmond Park closer to midnight for the summer after his St Patrick’s Athletic team moved back to the top of the Premier Division table with a 3-1 win over Bohs on Friday night.

The lessening need for floodlights as the bright evenings deepen is one of the reasons Kenny wants to protect the mood in Inchicore.

Speaking to the Irish Sun after the derby win against Bohs, Kenny declared: “It was a great atmosphere and we need more of that. Sometimes in the summer months, people go on holidays and there is other stuff going on, it’s bright and you lose some of that . . . 

“People shout louder in the dark when the lights are on. We might have to put the games on at 9.30 or 10pm! We need to maintain that.”

Read the full article on the irishsun here.

Hibs star Jamie McGrath has expressed his burning desire to get back into the Ireland squad and add to his haul of 13 caps, the last coming in 2024.

McGrath played 64 minutes of Sunday’s 2-1 Edinburgh derby defeat, the two Hearts goals ironically coming after he was part of a triple substitution by the home side’s boss David Gray.

In a pre-match interview though, he outlined his international ambitions to Paul Rowan of the Sunday Times.

Meath native McGrath said: “I’m very happy with where I am at. But the one thing burning away is trying to get back in the national team. Trying every week to force my way back in because it’s been a while and my main reason for playing football has always been to play for Ireland.”

Read the full article on thetimes here.

Cesc Fabregas was tight-lipped when asked about the Chelsea managerial vacancy but his Italian bosses at Serie A side Como have no issues with their man being in the frame to succeed Liam Rosenior.

Blues legend Fabregas was refused permission to speak to Inter Milan last summer but Como president Mirwan Suwarso won’t block any Chelsea approach.

Talksport’s website quotes Suwarso as saying: “If that makes him happy, that’s him. You want your employees to stay with you for as long as possible but at the end of the day we don’t own him and he’s free to go to Chelsea if he wishes.”

Fabregas countered the story however when he said he has: “Nothing to say about that.”

Read the full article on talksport here.

The key stories developing today

The Italian Government and FIFA have poured cold water on a proposal from one of Donald Trump’s special envoys to have Italy replace Iran at this summer’s World Cup finals in the USA.

US special envoy Paolo Zampolli first outlined the plan, concocted apparently to ease the tense relationship between Italy and the Trump administration over the war with Iran.

Zampolli said: “I confirm I have suggested to Trump and Infantino that Italy replace Iran at the World Cup. I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion.”

The BBC reports that while Fifa did not comment officially on this suggestion, they did refer to a recent statement from their president Gianni Infantino who said: “The Iranian team is coming, for sure.”

Italy were beaten by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-offs last month and the BBC further reports that members of the Italian Government and their Olympic federation have dismissed the Zampolli idea.

Iran are scheduled to play New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle at the World Cup finals.

Read the full interview on bbc sport here.

Martin O’Neill may be leaving the Celtic manager’s job at the end of the season but he has ensured that winger James Forrest will be staying for another year at least after agreeing a contract extension with the 34-year-old.

Forrest, Celtic’s most decorated player with 26 major honours including 13 League medals, will play on for an 18th season at the club according to a report on Sky Sports.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I’ve been here my full career and I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve been so successful in my time here and I’m delighted to have signed another year, and I’ll just give my best to the club for however long I’ll be here.

“While I’m still playing I can hopefully keep contributing and helping the team when I can and I’m just going to give it everything until I finish. When I do stop, I will look back on so many great memories, but hopefully I can make a few more before I do finish.”

Read the story on skysports here.

Bohs have now gone six games without a win in the Premier Division but manager Alan Reynolds is predicting a big few weeks for the Gypsies ahead of the mid-season break, starting with Friday night’s trip to St Patrick’s Athletic.

The Saints are currently second in the league table and Reynolds is relishing another Dublin derby after last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers.

With games against Derry City and Shels also on the horizon, he told the Irish Sun: “They are open games and I think that suits us. We’ve St Pat’s on Friday and then we’ve six games in May, with one brought forward because of Europe. That’s going to be a big month for us.

“The good thing is that, probably for the first time this year, we have a fully fit squad to choose from which is unusual for this stage of the season.”

Read the full article on the irishsun here.

Michael O’Neill has opened up speculation about his Northern Ireland manager’s role after successfully steering Blackburn Rovers to Championship survival in his short-term job sharing stint as Ewood Park boss.

The Belfast Telegraph reports on O’Neill’s candid comments to the BBC regarding his future after the 3-1 win at Sheffield United on Wednesday night that guaranteed Championship football next season.

“You can’t do both, there’s no way you could do both,” said O’Neil. “I was only able to do the two things because the play-off against Italy was in March, there’s no way you could do it when the games are in September, October, November, it’s not possible. At some point, I’ll have to make a decision one way or the other.”

Read the full article on belfasttelegraph here.

Competitive soccer returns to Celtic Park, the home of the GAA in Derry, for the first time in 80 years on Friday night when Derry City take on League of Ireland Premier Division leaders and champions Shamrock Rovers in front of the Virgin Media cameras.

With work on a new pitch at the Brandywell now underway, City have moved their games to the GAA ground which hosted Irish League side Derry Celtic years ago.

RTE Sport reports that City expect to welcome 7000 fans to Celtic Park for the game, just 1000 under capacity.

Read the full article on rte here.

The key stories developing today

Roy Keane’s return to management may not go as smoothly as people think - if it ever happens - according to one of his former international players.

Shane Long played for Ireland under Martin O’Neill and Keane and the Irish Mirror reports on his views about any return to management for Keane in the current managerial climate.

Highlighting that management and coaching has changed since Keane left Ipswich in 2011, Long believes communication with modern players could be a problem for his former coach.

“It depends on whether he wants to or not,” Long is quoted as saying. “I think Roy Keane is doing a great job as a pundit as well. It’d be a shame to lose him off the TV and the one-liners saying what he thinks. He’s got such a good knowledge of the game.

“It’s that coaching is different as well. I think it’s hard. People realise, it’s harder than you’d think to get what’s in your head, out to the players and verbally tell them.

“I think that Roy might struggle with that because everything comes so easily to him in his head, and he can’t understand how other players aren’t doing it, but getting that across and really like dumbing it down for players, I suppose, he’s got that presence about him for a manager.

“He’s got the knowledge of the game, so why not? But at the moment I think he’s enjoying his time as a pundit.”

Long also backs his former Ireland team-mate Troy Parrott to make an impact back in England if he decides to quit AZ Alkmaar and Dutch football this summer.

Read the full interview on irishmirror here.

Oisin McEntee’s breakthrough season at Hearts is at an end with a hamstring injury ruling him out of contention for the remainder of a thrilling title battle with Celtic and Rangers.

Hearts boss Derek McInnes has confirmed that the former Ireland Under 21 defender and Tomas Magnusson will both miss the rest of the run-in, starting with Sunday’s derby against Hibs.

Scotland’s Daily Record reports that scans on the injury picked up in a 3-1 win over Motherwell a fortnight ago have confirmed that McEntee needs surgery.

McInnes said: “McEntee’s gubbed. He’s out for the season. We always hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as it is because of how he was feeling. But unfortunately for us he does need an operation but it will keep him out for the rest of the season.

“Losing him and Tomas is a blow in the sense that they’re two powerful players, two brilliant competitors and two boys that have done really well in their first season.

“But as harsh as it sounds I can’t dwell on that, I’ve got to just deal with the players that are available to me. It’s tough for Oisin and Tomas but you know they’ve played their part to get us to this stage, it’s up to us now to try and finish it off for them.”

Hearts are currently one point ahead of Rangers and three clear of Celtic.

Read the story on dailyrecord here.

As Ireland look to qualify automatically for the 2028 European Championships, which they will co-host with England, Scotland and Wales, future hopes could be boosted by a change to the qualification system.

UEFA are currently debating a new format for qualification with their member associations with a Nations League type format under consideration but this will only kick-in after the 2028 finals which will include games in Dublin.

The Irish Examiner reports that a final decision on any revamp will be taken by the Uefa executive committee in Istanbul before next month’s Europa League final.

Read the full article on the irishexaminer here.

Bournemouth’s outgoing boss Andoni Iraola, Fulham head coach Marco Silva and former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic are in the frame to replace Liam Rosenior as Chelsea boss according to a report on the BBC Sport website.

Rosenior, just months into a long term deal, was sacked on Wednesday afternoon after just 106 days in charge at Stamford Bridge, the axe falling after the 2-1 defeat against Brighton.

That was Chelsea’s fifth consecutive league defeat without scoring, their worst scoreless run since 1912.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

Bruno Fernandes will be a Manchester United next season - and the club may well exercise their option to extend his contract for another season after that.

That’s the claim made by the Irish Sun newspaper, just months after the Red Devils seemed ready to accept a near £80 million offer for the Portuguese midfielder from Saudi club Al-Nassr.

The paper says club figures have this time stressed to Fernandes that they do not want him to leave under any circumstances.

Read the full article on thesun here.

The key stories developing today

Promotion winning boss Brian Barry-Murphy has thanked the Cardiff City youngster for justifying his faith in them after he guided the Welsh club back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Cork native Barry-Murphy was aware of Cardiff’s young players from his time as Manchester City under 21s boss from 2021 to 2024 and says they were one of the reasons he took the job.

“I had been at Manchester City for three years, so I was aware of all of our best young talent, but I was also aware of all the young players of, say, born in 2002 right the way up to 2007-08,” Barry-Murphy told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.

“So I knew all of the best talent and I had a pretty strong idea that the players at Cardiff were as good as a lot of the best young talent in Europe.

“It just hadn’t been seen really. It was something that maybe everybody on the outside wouldn’t have been aware of, and if I could get that, combined with some senior pros who would really nurture them and help them overcome the inevitable obstacles that you’re facing in the course of a League One season, it would give us a great chance of winning.

“One of the big things that brought me to Cardiff was my belief that the young players that we’ve spoken so much about throughout the course of the season could play at the very highest level.

“So I fully intend to honour that and if that doesn’t work, or I’m wrong, then so be it, but clearly we’d have to improve the squad in certain areas, but always with quality over quantity.”

Read the full interview on bbc sport here.

The tender for the redevelopment of Dalymount Park has been issued by the Government as progress continues at pace on a new 8,000 capacity home for Bohemians.

The Irish Examiner’s John Fallon reports that the estimated cost of the project has risen from €40million to €60million over the last 18 months with €34million of that total to be borrowed by Dublin City Council.

The report adds that Bohs will leave their home at the end of the current season with the full redevelopment expected to take four years in total but with a return to action there possible within two years.

Richmond Park, home to St Patrick’s Athletic, and the RDS are under consideration as temporary host venues by Bohs.

Grants, including €24.7m in the 2024 Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund, mean Bohs won’t have to raise any funds towards the cost of the work.

Read the story on irishexaminer here.

Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany will put rest before reward this summer after confirming he has turned down work as a World Cup pundit in favour of a holiday and a break from football.

Several broadcasters including BBC and ITV had invited the former Manchester City captain to join their expert panels for the tournament in America.

But with newly crowned German champions Bayern still chasing Champions League glory, Kompany will take the opportunity to take a break in June.

Talksport radio’s website reports that, when asked if he would work at the World Cup, Kompany said: “No chance! What am I supposed to do, work as a TV pundit on holiday? Otherwise, I won’t have a family left in Munich next year! So, absolutely no chance!”

Read the full article on the talksport here.

Carla Ward’s Ireland have jumped up to 23rd spot in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings thanks to their World Cup double over Poland.

The RTE website reports that the Girls In Green are up four places after a pair of qualifier wins against the Poles in Gdansk and then the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland, currently third in the League A Group 2 table, are now just one off their best rating of 22nd, achieved just before the 2023 World Cup.

Holland are next up for Ward’s side when they meet in Cork on June 5th before a trip to France four days later in their final group fixture.

Read the full article on rte here.

The EFL Championship will proceed without any form of VAR next season after clubs voted against the introduction of a VAR challenge system for managers.

The proposal from English football’s refereeing governing body PGMO was first put to EFL clubs last month but has now been rejected by a majority vote according to the Sky Sports website.

Goal-line technology will be in operation in the Championship while VAR’s range of powers will be extended in the Premier League.

Read the full article on skysports here.

The key stories developing today

Kerry born Shamrock Rovers star Gary O’Neill has his eyes on a June return to action after winning his battle with testicular cancer.

O’Neill revealed the reason behind his six-month absence from the Rovers first team squad in an interview with the club’s own TV channel last week.

And he has now confirmed to RTE’s Oliver Callan Show that he intends to push for a first team comeback in the Dublin derby with Shelbourne on June 12th.

The RTE website quotes from O’Neill’s interview with the Callan show when he stated: “I have a goal in my mind and I think it’s definitely an optimistic goal to be brutally honest with you, but we have a mid-season break the first week of June and I’m looking at coming back after that mid-season break.

“I won’t be ready to start a match or anything but I want to be back with the team and back training and then eventually knocking on the manager’s door looking for a few minutes.

“So yeah, it’s not too far away. That might be optimistic but that’s just my goal.”

Read the full interview on rte here.

Ireland’s 1990 World Cup foe Gheorghe Hagi is back in charge of the Romanian team for the second time - and has declared his intention to win every game his team plays as they look to qualify for Euro 2028.

Hagi was one of the stars of the show at Italia ‘90 when his Romanian side were eventually knocked out on penalties by Ireland in their famous last 16 clash in Genoa.

Now he could Romania to a Dublin date at the Euro 28 finals after making some bold statements at his inauguration according to the Guardian report.

“Our goal is to win every game. Our goal is to win the Nations League. Our goal is to qualify for the European Championship in 2028,” Hagi said at a press conference in Bucharest.

“I was born to win, not just to exist. Don’t you know my motto? This is an honour and a great responsibility but also a huge challenge to make the country and our supporters happy.”

Read the story on theguardian here.

Liverpool and England legend Michael Owen has told Ireland hero Troy Parrott to test himself at the highest level when clubs come calling to AZ Alkmaar for his services this summer.

Parrott’s 30th goal of the season helped AZ win the KNVB Dutch Cup for only the fifth time on Sunday as the likes of AC Milan, Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund, Leeds United, Everton, West Ham and Fulham have been linked with the Dubliner.

Owen told the Irish Mirror: “This is a short career. If the opportunity arises, then you can’t keep a good man down. You’ve got to try it. If an opportunity arises to better yourself, then absolutely.”

Read the full article on the irishmirror here.

French defender Ibrahima Konate looks set to extend his Liverpool career and sign a new contract extension in the coming weeks according to reports.

The Irish Examiner is one of many outlets suggesting that Konate will extend his current deal which expires in June and quotes the player’s remarks after Sunday’s win at Everton.

“My future? To be fair, there are many things people have said but for a long time we have spoken with the club and we are close to an agreement,” said Konate.

Read the full article on irishexaminer here.

German coach Marco Rose will make his Premier League bow next season when he takes charge of Bournemouth on a three-year contract as replacement for Andoni Iraola.

The BBC reports that Bournemouth have confirmed the appointment of former Leipzig boss Rose just days after Iraola confirmed he would not sign a new deal at Vitality Stadium.

Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna and Rayo Vallecano’s Inigo Perez were also in contention for the job according to the BBC.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Martin O’Neill is already winding his Scottish Cup final opponent Neil Lennon up after telling a hilarious story about the one-time state of Lenny’s house live on Premier Sports.

Celtic eventually thumped St Mirren 6-2 but needed extra-time, and four unanswered goals, to get the job done at Hampden Park.

The Bhoys will now meet their former captain and manager Lennon in next month’s final after he masterminded a penalty shoot-out win for Championship side Dunfermline against Falkirk in Saturday’s first semi-final.

Lennon was on pundit duty for Premier Sports at the Celtic game and was reunited with his former boss for the post-match interviews with O’Neill revealing how he stayed in Lennon’s house before signing him for Leicester from Crewe.

Reminded that it’s 30 years since that signing, O’Neill went on to highlight how he insisted on visiting Lennon at home to convince him to move to the Foxes and then revealed he needed to wipe his feet - on the way out!

O’Neill also complimented Lennon’s work as a manager and as a player with the Daily Record quoting him as saying: “He has been fantastic for me, there is no point in praising him any higher, both at Leicester and at Celtic. A major player for us, yeah, and his record in management is second to none.”

Read the full article on dailyrecord here.

Shamrock Rovers enjoyed a statement 2-1 win over Bohemians in a pulsating Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night but not even two ‘disputed’ penalties could persuade Stephen Bradley to back the introduction of VAR to the League of Ireland.

Bradley was the happier of the two managers by a distance after Graham Burke scored from play and from the spot to put the Hoops 2-0 up before the break but Colm Whelan gave the visitors hope when he netted an 80th minute penalty.

Opposite number Alan Reynolds wasn’t happy about ref Rob Hennessy’s decision to award Rovers their 44th minute penalty but Bradley had no issue with either decision and told the Irish Mirror’s Mark McCadden about his distaste for VAR.

“They’re both penalties in my opinion but, yeah, we don’t want VAR, that’s for sure,” said Bradley. “I think VAR is killing the game. They were supposed to bring it in to make it more black and white. It’s mad, it’s created more grey areas. It’s nonsense.

“You’re still going to a video room, but it’s someone else’s opinion. It doesn’t make sense. I think it’s actually made the game worse.”

Read the full interview with Alan Reynolds on irishmirror.ie here.

Local hero Denise O’Sullivan will miss the return of international football to Leeside when Holland visit her native Cork for a World Cup qualifier in June but the Irish midfielder still took the positives from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Poland at the Aviva.

The Liverpool midfielder will miss that home fixture after she picked up a yellow card against the Poles and told Extratime’s Macdara Ferris of her disappointment.

“It’s frustrating that I’m missing the game in Cork,” admitted O’Sullivan. “It’s a massive game for the team so of course I’m really gutted but it is what it is. It’s part of football, it happens.

“I’ll take the positives, and that’s the three points tonight. I’m sure I’ll be there cheering the girls on in Cork. I trust them, I trust the staff that they’re going to go out and do everything in their power to get something in those games. I’m keeping my head up. That’s the mentality.”

Read the full article on the extratime here.

Troy Parrott’s incredible season continued on Sunday with the Dubliner on the scoresheet as AZ Alkmaar defeated NEC Nijmegen 5-1 to lift the Dutch Cup at the Feyenoord Stadium in ‌ Rotterdam.

The Irish Examiner reports that Parrott scored the fifth and final goal five minutes into stoppage time when a close-range effort took a wicked deflection.

Read the full article on irishexaminer here.

Manager Pep Guardiola and striker Erling Haaland had plenty to say as Manchester City did their title hopes a huge favour with Sunday’s 2-1 home win against Premier League leaders Arsenal with Haaland scoring the 65th minute winner.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Derry City manager Tiernan Lynch remains defiant in the face of pressure as his side prepare for Friday night’s trip to a Shelbourne side also under the cosh from their fans after an indifferent start to the Premier Division season.

As reported by the Irish Sun and other outlets and after a 2-2 draw at Dundalk last weekend, Lynch is confident that Derry can end a seven game winless run at Tolka Park, a sequence of events that has led to calls for Lynch’s sacking.

Lynch however is confident his team will turn their fortunes around - and his - and said: “I think that the best indicator of a team is how hard they work. They certainly don’t need to be coaxed day in, day out to do the work.

“Even in Dundalk, we were hugely disappointed with the second goal that we conceded to let them back into the game. The first goal was 25-30 yards out, and being hyper-critical we probably could have got to the ball a bit quicker.

“You see the work ethic in that group of boys and throwing themselves in front of the ball. There’s bits and pieces we need to do better in both boxes but they’re things we’re just working on on a daily basis to try and put right.”

Read the full article on thesun.ie here.

Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds will put club before country and release star midfielder Dawson Devoy for Ireland’s summer camp in Spain next month if it means the Meath native will win his first senior international cap.

Reynolds and Devoy first worked together with the Irish Under 21s and the Dalymount supremo is ready to do without Devoy if Irish boss Heimir Halgrimsson calls him for the training camp and a friendly against Grenada in Murcia on May 16th.

Ahead of Friday night’s big Dublin derby at Shamrock Rovers, The Irish Independent’s Aidan Fitzmaurice quotes Reynolds as saying: “I’m a bit old school in this. I think it would be a fantastic honour for any League of Ireland player to get called up. I wouldn’t be one for standing in his [Devoy] way if selected, but obviously if we have games, then it’s different,” says Reynolds.

“Closer to the time we can see but I just would love to see him get capped for his country. I think he deserves it. We’ll see if he’s selected.”

Read the full interview with Alan Reynolds on independent.ie here.

Robbie Keane may be the frontrunner to become Celtic manager in the summer but right now he is only interested in retaining the Hungarian league title with Ferencvaros according to Scotland’s Daily Record.

Ferencvaros returned to the top of the NIB1 table with a 2-1 win over Puskas Academy earlier this week and can take a major step towards another championship with a win at second placed Gyor on Sunday, who are level on points with just four games remaining this season.

The Record reports that Keane is focussed on the remaining four games. After the midweek win, he said: “The boys showed real character to turn the tables with two quick goals. I think at this level of the league there are ups and downs, but the most important thing is to win today.

“Everything in football depends on mentality. I expect a very tough match against Gyor, away from home, as our opponent has had a good season so far.”

Read the full article on the dailyrecord here.

Gianno Infantino has again stated categorically that Iran will play at the World Cup finals in America this summer with the FIFA President saying they will be there ‘for sure’ according to reports.

The 42 website carries the story with Infantino quoted as telling broadcaster CNBC that: “Iran is coming for sure. We hope that by then the situation will be a peaceful situation, that would definitely help.

“But Iran has to come, they represent their people, they have qualified, the players want to play.”

Iran are due to play two games in Los Angeles and one in Seattle in the World Cup in June.

Read the full article on the42.ie here.

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has confirmed to his Instagram account that he will bring the curtain down on his nine-year stint with the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The BBC Football website quotes Treble winning Silva as saying: “What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the four in a row and much more. It wasn’t that bad.”

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The key stories developing today

Sinn Fein TD for Louth Joanne Byrne has again called for Ireland’s European Championship qualifiers with Israel in September to be scrapped as details emerged of a new cross-party Oireachtas Group to help improve League of Ireland facilities.

Byrne was removed from her role as Chair of Drogheda United by the club’s US owners last month after calling on the FAI to withdraw from the home and away games against Israel in protest at the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Part of the new cross-party Oireachtas group led by Labour TD and fellow Louth representative Ged Nash, the Irish Independent reports that Byrne has again outlined her opposition to the Israeli fixtures.

She told the Dail on Wednesday evening: “This, as everybody is aware by now, came at a huge personal cost to me and led to me being removed and my role as chairperson of the club I’ve grown up in and spent my life loving.

“Although this broke my heart and is something I’m still trying to process and rebuild, I will proudly, staunchly reiterate again Sinn Féin’s opposition and my own, to Ireland playing Israel in this fixture. Israel is an apartheid state who have engaged in ethnic cleansing and genocide. Any representative of this Government who endorses this game proceeding needs to give yourselves a good shake and be aware that you’re going down on the wrong side of history.”

Read the full article on independent.ie here.

Fresh from inspiring Ireland to a 3-2 World Cup win in Gdansk on Tuesday evening, Arsenal star Katie McCabe wants to repeat the heroics against the Poles when they arrive at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Scorer of Ireland’s second goal in Poland with a brilliant volley, captain McCabe is set to lead by example when her team look to record the second win of their World Cup group campaign this weekend.

“I just want to win on Saturday, I don’t mind who scores,” McCabe told RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O’Donoghue. “Everyone’s been unbelievable in the impact they’re making in this team. So we just need to build off this performance again and work towards Saturday and we hope the fans can come out in numbers to support us in the Aviva.”

Read the full report on rte.ie here.

French team boss Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike won’t play for club or country again this season and will miss the World Cup finals in America this summer.

Ekiteke ruptured his Achilles as Liverpool exited the Champions League on Tuesday night, ironically against French side Paris St-Germain.

Confirming in a statement that his 23-year-old star will miss the World Cup finals in America, Deschamps said: “Hugo suffered a serious injury on Tuesday evening against PSG. The severity of his injury will unfortunately prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and participating in the World Cup.”

The BBC reports that Ekiteke may even miss the start of next season with Liverpool as he awaits full details of his recovery programme.

Read the full article on bbc sport here.

The Irish Examiner’s John Fallon has reported that Finn Delap, younger brother of Liam, is set to declare for the Republic of Ireland Under 21s as speculation continues around the international future of the Chelsea striker.

In an in-depth column on Heimir Halgrimmson’s ongoing pursuit of Liam Delap for his senior Ireland squad, Fallon reveals that Burton Albion defender Finn is set to join Jim Crawford’s Irish Under 21 squad imminently.

Delap’’s father Rory is a former Irish international while his paternal grandparents John and Maura hail from Donegal and Meath respectively.

For the full John Fallon column a subscription required.

Read the full article on irishexaminer.com here.

Junior Minister for Sport Charlie McConalogue has confirmed to the Dail that the new FAI panel of academy coaches will feature just one female coach - after only six females applied for the roles.

As reported by the Irish Sun, the Minister told the Dail on Wednesday that the FAI received 300 applications for the Academy Director and Head of Academy Coaching roles but only two per cent of the applicants were female, an issue which will now be reviewed by Sport Ireland.

Read the full article on thesun.ie here.

On the eve of a crucial World Cup game in Poland this evening, Ireland boss Carla Ward has hailed the appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as head coach at Union Berlin as the Bundesliga side break down barriers.

John Fallon reports in the Irish Examiner on Ward’s reaction as Union became the first club across the top five European leagues to appoint a female manager with Eta promoted from assistant manager to take charge until the end of the season.

“It’s unbelievably important,” said Ward as Ireland prepare for the first of two back-to-back games with Poland, at the 41,000-capacity Polsat Plus Arena this evening and at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

“I’m doing a Fifa independent study on the lack of females in the women’s game so will be talking to Marie-Louise next week. That’s perfect timing. I say it a lot that the men’s game is very different to women’s in terms of how it’s coached.

“The level of maturity in the men’s game goes back a lot longer and there’s far more participation in the male game. Us women, and I hope that I’m not speaking out of turn here, but we want to know the answer to everything, the details and the why behind it. I think lads are less so. Female coaches are arguably more process and detail driven. I think the men’s game could do with more women, let’s put it that way.”

Ward has confirmed that Crystal Palace midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn will miss today’s game with an Achilles injury but should be fit for Saturday’s return fixture in Dublin. Liverpool’s Denise O’Sullivan will return after missing the defeat in Holland last month.

Read the full article on irishexaminer.com here.

Shamrock Rovers midfielder Gary O’Neill has been lauded for his honesty after an inspirational interview with his club’s media team when he revealed the full extent of his cancer diagnosis and his return to health.

A five-time League of Ireland winner with the Hoops, O’Neill hasn’t played since last October after tests at Tallaght Hospital discovered a form of testicular cancer that required 28 chemotherapy sessions before he recently received the all-clear.

“Now I’ve got the all-clear, I’m back doing some running, back doing a lot of individual training,” he said. “I’m a footballer again now. This is my job. I want to get back on the pitch. I think it’s important that people know that. This isn’t going to define me,” said O’Neill.

“I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. I’ve won the battle with the cancer and I’m back to my job now. I’m not naive that I’m ready to play against Pat’s or against Bohs next week. I’m not ready. My body is not ready. I still have a few weeks, a couple of months to go.

“But my goal is now and has been, since I was diagnosed, to get back on the pitch. That hasn’t changed and I’m in a really good place now mentally.”

Read & watch the full interview on shamrockrovers.ie here.

Scotland’s ‘other’ Irish club HIbernian will celebrate their 150th anniversary with a game against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium on June 30th and a Fanzone party in Temple Bar.

Mark McCadden reports in the Irish Mirror that Hibs will undertake the visit to Dublin to celebrate their Irish origins and heritage.

The Fanzone celebrations will include a complimentary first pint of Guinness at the Buskers pub for all Hibees according to the report.

Read the full article on irishmirror.ie here.

Liverpool will give PSG a run for their money when they chase a 2-0 Champions League deficit in tonight’s quarter-final at Anfield, manager Arne Slot has told the BBC.

Home rule will definitely be the only rule for Slot tonight if his team is to overcome a two-goal deficit from an away leg in Europe for only the third time in 14 attempts.

“In the last 50 home games we have played, 36 times we were able to score two goals or more. Yes, we don’t play PSG in all of those home games but the opponents we have had across the Premier League and Champions League are very strong,” said Slot.

“Yes, there is a belief we can do special things but we also need to be very, very, very special because we are playing against the champions of Europe, so that makes the task more complicated but not impossible.”

Read the full article on BBC Sport here.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes was outraged by the performance of referee Paul Tierney as Leeds United won 2-1 on Monday night in their first Old Trafford victory since 1981.

Tierney sent Lizandro Martinez off for a hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin with Reds boss Michael Carrick also fuming with the match official as he suffered the first home defeat of his spell as interim manager.

“I’m not talking about the referee, if I talk about the referee I’m going to get in very big trouble because the rules are different for everyone and applied differently for everyone. The difference in the yellow cards, you can also see it, so it’s better that I don’t say anything,” Fernandes is quoted as saying by the Daily Express.

Read the full article on express.co.uk here.