Gavin Cooney

The Norwegian Federation support the substance of both motions but are arguing against them. In an FAI/Irish context, it's interesting to read their rationale for doing so

In addition, there is a separate motion calling on the Norway FA to tell Fifa to abolish their Peace Prize

Norway FA to vote on motion to support FAI's call to exclude Israel from Uefa competition The Norwegian FA have been asked to co-sponsor the FAI’s motion regarding Israel’s alleged breaches of Uefa and Fifa statutes.

A notable development - Congress of the Norwegian Football Federation will this weekend vote on whether to explicitly support/co-sponsor FAI motion to Uefa on Israel. FAI remain only Uefa member whose members have formally called for Israeli suspension

www.the42.ie/norway-fai-i...

@reporterlars.bsky.social Hi Lars, could you briefly follow me back to facilitate a direct message? Many thanks, Gavin

Sport and politics don't mix in Ireland - except when we want them to The government’s efforts to shut down debate on the Israel game cannot last.

My column this week

Sport and politics don't mix in Ireland - except when we want them to the42.ie/6968136

New Uefa report reveals historic Premier League spending and shows LOI lagging behind on TV income Chelsea have spent a staggering €2.25 billion in transfer fees across the last five years.

The latest edition of the Uefa landscaping report is out - always interesting

Picture regarding Premier League and LOI remains pretty similar, but interesting to get real figures behind what PL clubs are spending, and see slow down in multi-club models

www.the42.ie/league-of-ir...

Chelsea academy prospect completes transfer to FAI from Northern Ireland Chris Atherton – who became the UK’s youngest-ever senior footballer with Glenavon at the age of just 13 – will represent the Republic of Ireland.

Chelsea's Chris Atherton has transferred to the FAI, having played for Glenavon's first team at 13.

He was at the Euro 28 co-host announcement as NI's 'football youth ambassador' - now NI are not hosting the tournament and they've lost him too

The42.ie/6967983

'They have not threatened anything' - FAI CEO insists no Uefa pressure to play Israel David Courell says it’s within best interests of Irish football to host Israelis and insists people can “have their voices heard” in protest.

Excellent clarity provided here by FAI CEO David Courell re Israel fixture amid lots of rumour about potential Uefa sanction

Makes clear the cost of not fulfilling fixtures is the loss of match points, which may have impact on seeding for Euro 28 Q

the42.ie/6967657

Fifa and the IOC's spineless politicking reminds us that they will never be the heroes we need With those in charge fleeing from responsibility, the FAI are left alone to make a stand on Israel.

My column this week

www.the42.ie/fifa-ioc-rus...

Should Ireland play football against Israel? The latest Irish and international sports news from The 42

This week's episode of The 42FM is on Irish football's Israel question

www.the42.ie/podcasts/669...

Some friendly advice for Rugby Country from your long-suffering football cousins Rugby analysis is suddenly veering into existential debates about structures and pathways that are usually the staple of the football fan.

my column this week - a letter to Rugby Country from the laureates of existential despair www.the42.ie/rugby-countr...

Some friendly advice for Rugby Country from your long-suffering football cousins Rugby analysis is suddenly veering into existential debates about structures and pathways that are usually the staple of the football fan.

my column this week - a letter to Rugby Country from the laureates of existential despair www.the42.ie/rugby-countr...

FAI say they will play Israel - but this Nations League controversy is only just beginning Ireland’s games with Israel will be played – but we don’t yet know where the games will be.

Piece on some of the questions and conundrums now facing the FAI following the Israel draw
www.the42.ie/ireland-isra...

'I probably would have gone down a much, much darker path if this pitch wasn’t here' Keith Treacy is part of a group fighting to save a concrete pitch in Dublin’s north inner city which has nurtured some of Ireland’s sporting greats.

Piece with Keith Treacy on campaign to save the Strand Pitch on Portland Row

A classic episode of Official Ireland - Dublin airport will call itself Troy Parrott international as Parrott has to go public to save the pitch on which he learned his skills

www.the42.ie/strand-pitch...

John Virgo's death robs us of one of the last truly original voices in sports commentary Virgo had a genius for conveying drama without always needing recourse to his catchphrase, for the brilliance sprung from the cadence of his voice.

My column this week www.the42.ie/john-virgo-3...

'Antony puts Real Betis ahead against Feyenoord' may be the purest Europa League sentence I've ever heard

That the English teams don't have to play each other in CL league phase - thereby making it easier to boost the co-efficient and get five teams in next year to do it all over again - is a major design flaw

The best and worst thing about football is that there is no format so bloated, dull and low-stakes that can't be redeemed by the football

With the entitled players rising up to sack the demanding coach and missing out on the top eight in a blaze of lazy indiscipline, you'd have to say it's all set up for Real Madrid to win the Champions League now

Carrick is rewarded for taking a gamble where Arteta's dreary Arsenal show old faults Arsenal left themselves open to bad luck by ceding control in the first half while wasting most of the second half with more utterly sterile excuses for attacking.

Piece on Arsenal/United, and the risk of not taking risks

www.the42.ie/arsenal-man-...

It is explained in the piece

Carrick is rewarded for taking a gamble where Arteta's dreary Arsenal show old faults Arsenal left themselves open to bad luck by ceding control in the first half while wasting most of the second half with more utterly sterile excuses for attacking.

Piece on Arsenal/United, and the risk of not taking risks

www.the42.ie/arsenal-man-...

I got a preview of @seamas.bsky.social debut novel - it is fantastic. Brilliantly inventive and threaded with great humour while it catches you cold on how we try- and often fail - to deal with trauma. Will be one of best Irish books of the year

You can pre-order now

What the disgraceful treatment of James McClean has told us about modern England With McClean returning to Derry City, we reflect on his 15-year career in England.

My column this week

What the disgraceful treatment of James McClean has told us about modern England the42.ie/6934561

What the disgraceful treatment of James McClean has told us about modern England With McClean returning to Derry City, we reflect on his 15-year career in England.

My column this week

What the disgraceful treatment of James McClean has told us about modern England the42.ie/6934561

Nothing better than sitting down of a Thursday evening and seeing how many Fenerbahce players you can recognise solely from close-ups of their face

Liverpool have scored six goals in their last six home league games against Forest, Sunderland, Brighton, Wolves, Leeds, and Burnley. Slot isn't going to last much longer

‘He hasn't anglicised himself at all’: ‘Authentic’ Brian Barry-Murphy climbing UK football ladder We profile Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy, flying at the top of League One and tipped for bigger things.

I have written a profile article about Brian Barry-Murphy

‘He hasn't anglicised himself at all’: ‘Authentic’ Brian Barry-Murphy climbing UK football ladder the42.ie/6928588

'I still haven’t fully processed it' - The Mayo teenager flying out for Junior Australian Open bid Mayo tennis prospect Eoghan Jennings speaks to The 42.

How to chase a pro tennis career from the west of Ireland - Interview with Irish teenager Eoghan Jennings, who competes at the Junior Aussie Open in Melbourne next week.

www.the42.ie/eoghan-jenni...

In defence of the Saipan movie Saipan movie plays fast and loose with some facts – but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get to the truth.

My column this week

In defence of the Saipan movie the42.ie/6927318