British football officials lined themselves up in opposition to Fifa president Sepp Blatter in a day of off field drama that will be difficult to match at the forthcoming World Cup.

Manchester City Council are turning a flowerbed outside the Etihad red to raise awareness of National Blood Week.

Manchester City’s Argentinian trio Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero have are flying high ahead of the World Cup in nearby Brazil.

GMP have set up an operation to identify potential abusers and limit the rise of attacks once the tournament kicks off on Thursday.

Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck showed off his samba skills ahead of England’s opening World Cup clash on Saturday

Manchester City’s partner club Down Under Melbourne City are continuing to add star quality to their squad with the signing of Damien Duff.

England have had a number of goalkeeping howlers at World Cups, most notably David Seaman blunder against Ronaldinho and Robert Green in South Africa four years ago

Manchester United’s England duo Phil Jones and Chris Smalling should be nowhere near the England World Cup squad, but who is pushing for their places.

Wayne Rooney has dismissed claims from former Manchester United teammate Paul Scholes that his best years are behind him ahead of England’s World Cup warm-up game again against Honduras.

The Dutchman was one of 142 coaches from 20 countries including the UK, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain who were consulted by the League Managers Association (LMA) for its Castrol European Manager & Coaches Survey

Welshman Giggs envisages good times under the new regime though it may well be a few years yet until he takes on a management himself after a career that included a record 963 appearances for the Old Trafford club.