https://touchlinesport.net/ Independent football journalism covering Irish football, recruitment, club strategy, ownership, academies and tactical analysis. en-ie Tue, 06 Oct 2026 14:20:28 +0000 https://touchlinesport.net/logo.png https://touchlinesport.net/ https://touchlinesport.net/lionel-messi-argentina-final-match-benin.html https://touchlinesport.net/lionel-messi-argentina-final-match-benin.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 15:04:00 +0100 James Callan Lionel Messi faces Benin for the final time tonight, with Argentina turning an October friendly into an all-day goodbye to their captain. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/greg-bolger-retirement-cork-city.html https://touchlinesport.net/greg-bolger-retirement-cork-city.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:30:00 +0100 James Callan The 38-year-old will finish his career at Turner’s Cross on Friday, nearly 20 years after making his League of Ireland debut against Cork City. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/saudi-arabia-neom-stadium-2034-world-cup.html https://touchlinesport.net/saudi-arabia-neom-stadium-2034-world-cup.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:22:00 +0100 James Callan The 46,000-seat stadium inside The Line was one of the standout venues included in Saudi Arabia’s successful 2034 World Cup bid. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/athlone-town-womens-documentary-the-town.html https://touchlinesport.net/athlone-town-womens-documentary-the-town.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:10:00 +0100 James Callan The Town will follow Ireland’s three-in-a-row champions through European football, managerial change and the part-time reality behind their success. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-jorge-jesus-row.html https://touchlinesport.net/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-jorge-jesus-row.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:00:00 +0100 James Callan The 41-year-old has walked out of Portugal’s camp after being left unused against Norway, with his role under Jorge Jesus suddenly looking far less certain. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/fai-israel-oireachtas-david-courell.html https://touchlinesport.net/fai-israel-oireachtas-david-courell.html Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:01:00 +0100 James Callan David Courell faces questions over Gavin Bazunu, the player vote and how the FAI handled an extraordinary week around the Ireland squad. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/nasser-al-khelaifi-world-football-clubs.html https://touchlinesport.net/nasser-al-khelaifi-world-football-clubs.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:11:00 +0100 James Callan World Football Clubs is only a proposal for now, but EFC's rise in Europe gives a good idea of the ambition behind it. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/fifa-uefa-investment-row-court.html https://touchlinesport.net/fifa-uefa-investment-row-court.html Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:37:00 +0100 James Callan UEFA is seeking evidence for a potential Swiss criminal complaint as FIFA’s abandoned private-investment plan continues to cause problems months after its collapse. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/sheffield-united-11m-loan-ownership-dispute.html https://touchlinesport.net/sheffield-united-11m-loan-ownership-dispute.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:28:00 +0100 James Callan The company used to buy Sheffield United has been wound up. The club’s accounts show it was also owed £11m by the Blades. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/roma-pietralata-stadium-final-approval.html https://touchlinesport.net/roma-pietralata-stadium-final-approval.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:13:00 +0100 James Callan The 60,605-seat stadium could give Roma something they have spent decades without: a home built around the club. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/bari-11m-filmauro-250m-stadium-plan.html https://touchlinesport.net/bari-11m-filmauro-250m-stadium-plan.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:26:00 +0100 James Callan Filmauro has committed fresh capital before a crucial court hearing, while a €250m proposal has emerged to transform Bari’s famous San Nicola. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/ireland-israel-racism-idah-molumby-uefa.html https://touchlinesport.net/ireland-israel-racism-idah-molumby-uefa.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:58:00 +0100 James Callan Apparent monkey chants towards Adam Idah were reported from the Israeli support, but Jayson Molumby's attempt to alert officials brought no intervention. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/belvedere-240-internationals-schoolboy-club.html https://touchlinesport.net/belvedere-240-internationals-schoolboy-club.html Mon, 28 Sep 2026 09:24:00 +0100 James Callan From Real Betis and Atlético Madrid to a World Cup meeting with Messi, the tales of a schoolboy club with a big history. https://touchlinesport.net/gavin-bazunu-ireland-israel-withdrawal.html https://touchlinesport.net/gavin-bazunu-ireland-israel-withdrawal.html Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:33:00 +0100 James Callan The Ireland goalkeeper has spoken publicly after a remarkable day in Debrecen ended with the squad voting to fulfil Sunday’s Nations League fixture. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/manchester-city-115-charges-verdict.html https://touchlinesport.net/manchester-city-115-charges-verdict.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:17:00 +0100 James Callan The reported verdict covers financial reporting, sponsorship, payments and cooperation, but Manchester City’s punishment has not yet been decided. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/premier-league-efl-1-8bn-offer.html https://touchlinesport.net/premier-league-efl-1-8bn-offer.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:40:00 +0100 James Callan The Premier League is offering considerably more money to the EFL, but changes to spending rules, the Carabao Cup and 3pm blackout come with it. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/sligo-rovers-restructure-private-investment.html https://touchlinesport.net/sligo-rovers-restructure-private-investment.html Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:25:00 +0100 James Callan The Showgrounds will remain in member hands, while a new football company could eventually allow Sligo Rovers to bring in outside investment. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/david-alaba-udinese-transfer.html https://touchlinesport.net/david-alaba-udinese-transfer.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:12:00 +0100 James Callan The four-time Champions League winner insists he is not winding down as Udinese add vast experience to Kosta Runjaic’s defence. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/hibernian-marink-reedijk-manager.html https://touchlinesport.net/hibernian-marink-reedijk-manager.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 16:13:00 +0100 James Callan The 35-year-old arrives at Easter Road after winning 28 of 32 league games with SK Beveren without losing once. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/andy-burnham-football-alcohol-ban-review.html https://touchlinesport.net/andy-burnham-football-alcohol-ban-review.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:04:00 +0100 James Callan From WSL trials to policing concerns and club revenue, the case for changing one of English football’s longest-standing matchday rules is back on the table. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/christian-eriksen-leaves-wolfsburg.html https://touchlinesport.net/christian-eriksen-leaves-wolfsburg.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:13:38 +0100 James Callan The Denmark international will continue his rehabilitation closer to his family after bringing his eventful spell in Germany to an early end. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/enzo-le-fee-sunderland-contract-2031.html https://touchlinesport.net/enzo-le-fee-sunderland-contract-2031.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:01:00 +0100 James Callan The French midfielder arrived for a Championship promotion push. Twenty months later, he is scoring European winners and staying until 2031. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/valencia-javier-aguirre-head-coach.html https://touchlinesport.net/valencia-javier-aguirre-head-coach.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:56:00 +0100 James Callan The experienced Mexican takes over with Valencia 19th as Braulio Vázquez returns to rebuild the club’s football operation. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-retirement-1000-goals.html https://touchlinesport.net/cristiano-ronaldo-portugal-retirement-1000-goals.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:34:15 +0100 James Callan The 41-year-old thought about stopping this summer but has decided to continue, with career goal number 1,000 now 21 away. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/harry-kane-mls-nfl-kicker.html https://touchlinesport.net/harry-kane-mls-nfl-kicker.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:29:51 +0100 James Callan The Bayern Munich striker says becoming an NFL kicker is something he wants to seriously explore, potentially while finishing his football career in Major League Soccer. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/sligo-rovers-private-investment-restructure-vote.html https://touchlinesport.net/sligo-rovers-private-investment-restructure-vote.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:26:00 +0100 James Callan The proposal could open the football operation to outside money while keeping the Showgrounds and majority control with members. Irish Football https://touchlinesport.net/do-national-football-styles-still-exist.html https://touchlinesport.net/do-national-football-styles-still-exist.html Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:05:00 +0100 James Callan Brazil had joga bonito, Italy had catenaccio and the Netherlands had Total Football. So what happened to football’s great national styles? https://touchlinesport.net/manchester-united-record-revenue-43m-loss.html https://touchlinesport.net/manchester-united-record-revenue-43m-loss.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 16:13:00 +0100 James Callan United made more money than ever without European football, while lower costs, higher finance charges and £63.5m of stadium land shaped the year. World Football https://touchlinesport.net/bournemouth-transfer-recruitment-value.html https://touchlinesport.net/bournemouth-transfer-recruitment-value.html Wed, 23 Sep 2026 10:34:00 +0100 James Callan Bournemouth have gone from Steve Cook and a 17-point deduction to developing players for Real Madrid, Liverpool and PSG. It has been some upgrade. https://touchlinesport.net/jayden-marshall-shamrock-rovers-como.html https://touchlinesport.net/jayden-marshall-shamrock-rovers-como.html Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:06:00 +0100 James Callan The 16-year-old centre-back has joined the Serie A club after a rapid rise through Shamrock Rovers and the Republic of Ireland underage setup. Irish Football