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Ireland denied World Cup place

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 02/12/2009
Football betting

FIFA have rejected the possibility of the Republic of Ireland taking part in next summer's World Cup as an additional 33rd team.

The Football Association of Ireland had lobbied the game's global governing body for inclusion in the finals in South Africa following the controversial nature of their play-off defeat to France last month.

Giovanni Trapattoni's team lost out when William Gallas netted after Thierry Henry had handled the ball in the build-up to a goal in Paris which sent Les Bleus through 2-1 on aggregate.

However, secretary general Jerome Valcke has officially ruled out their request after claiming they cannot change the structure of the tournament.

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Meanwhile, Lionel Messi has been named Europe's number one player after winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.

The Argentina and Barcelona star beat last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo to the annual accolade, which is organised by France Football magazine.

Sportsbook favourite Messi received more than twice as many votes as Ronaldo, with Barcelona team-mates Xavi and Andres Iniesta third and fourth respectively.

Manchester United and striker Wayne Rooney and Chelsea's Didier Drogba were the highest ranked Premier League players after finishing eighth and ninth in the voting respectively.

Elsewhere, Premier League clubs spent a combined £70.6million on agents' fees during the 12 months leading up to September.

In a move which mirrors the Football League, the top-flight has decided to make public the amount its 20 member clubs paid to agents during the period between October 2008-September 2009.

Unsurprisingly, Manchester City have been revealed as the biggest spenders.

The Eastlands club paid more than £12million to agents as part of the deals to bring Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz to the ambitious club.

World golf number one Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the Chevron World Challenge in the wake of last week's unexplained car accident.

The 33-year-old, who has hosted the tournament for the past nine years, said that the injuries he sustained in the accident last Friday morning had forced him to pull out.

Woods was found semi-conscious with facial injuries after his car reportedly hit a fire hydrant and a tree.

"I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week," Woods said in a statement on his official website.

"I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I'm very sorry that I can't be there."

Woods has also announced that he will not take part in any more tournaments this year.

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