Ireland

UEFA may introduce a competition for national teams to take the place of friendly internationals, general secretary Gerhard Aigner said.

The Rugby World Cup is expected to inject more than IR#50 million ($66.35 million) into the Irish economy, the Irish Football Union estimates.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has signed an agreement giving Sky Television broadcasting rights over Ireland's home matches until 2002.

The Football Association of Ireland has signed a #2.5m ($4m) ten-year agreement with Beamish Stout to become the official beer sponsor of Eircom Park ? the FAI?s proposed new #65m all-seater venue.

Manchester United has signed an agreement with Irish department chain Roche Stores to open a flagship retail outlet in Dublin next year - as well as three shop-in-shop outlets according to the UK?s Sunday Business newspaper.

Irish state broadcaster RTE has accused a Turkish television company of excessive demands for the rights to broadcast next week's Euro 2000 play-off.

Irish state broadcaster RTE has said it had failed to resolve a row with a Turkish television company over the rights to broadcast Wednesday's Euro 2000 play-off between Ireland and Turkey in Bursar.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has signed an agreement giving Sky Television broadcasting rights over Ireland's home matches until 2002.

The rugby union governing bodies of Ireland, Scotland and Wales have agreed to sign with the BBC for a further two years for live coverage of their home international matches.

Ireland plans to spend IR#281 million ($358 million) on a new sports complex incorporating an 80,000-capacity national stadium, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has said.

The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is moving a step closer to realising his ambitions for a #200 million national sports stadium in Dublin, according to The Irish Times newspaper.

Dick McGruther, the Australian Rugby Union chairman criticised the English rugby establishment yesterday, demanding that they pull their clubs into line after three years of inertia

South Africa's National Sports Council said on Sunday it was too soon to abandon plans to call for an international boycott of the rugby Springboks despite white rugby boss Louis Luyt's resignation.

The South African Rugby Football Union (SARFU) executive is set to bow to pressure and and vote themselves out of office according to Reuters.

International rugby union is again in turmoil after England announced an under strength party to tour the Southern hemisphere, leaving the Australian union fuming and sponsors concerned about the series.

South Korea's influential FIFA vice-president Dr Chung Mong-joon added his weight on Wednesday to the campaign to have UEFA President Lennart Johansson elected as the new president of FIFA.