The postponement of two Asian Federation Group matches has added more uncertainty over the identity of Ireland's prospective play-off opponents for entry to the 2002 World Cup finals.

FIFA ordered the postponements of the final Group A matches between Bahrain and Iran, and Saudi Arabia and Thailand until Sunday instead of today's originally scheduled date.

Last weekend's matches, in which Iran beat Iraq 2-1 and Oman beat Uzbekistan 4-2, appeared to make the situation clearer, with Mick McCarthy's team due to take on the winners of a clash between the runners-up from the two Asian groups in a two-legged meeting in Dublin on November 10th and then somewhere in the Middle East five days later.

Iran's win makes them strong favourites to win Asian Group A, leaving Saudi Arabia as the most likely runners-up in that section.

And Uzbekistan's defeat - after they led Group B bottom team Oman 2-0 at half-time - means the United Arab Emirates are virtually certain to be the other runners-up behind already-qualified China.

However, the Group A match between Thailand and Bahrain last Saturday was abandoned in the first half when a fire broke out in the stadium in Bangkok and Tuesday's replay produced a 1-1 draw which had no effect on the qualifying positions.

The most likely scenario is that Ireland will face the winners of a two-legged clash between Saudi Arabia and UAE. Those matches are set for October 25th and 31st.

Meanwhile, the spectre of a World Cup television blackout in Britain next summer vanished yesterday after the BBC and ITV today agreed a £160 million sterling deal with German TV giants Kirch.

ITV and the BBC, who will split the cost, may be jubilant, but set against the £5.4 million sterling they paid for the rights to France 98, the price has increased vastly.

Benito Carbone has joined Derby on three months' loan from first division Bradford City and Seth Johnson has completed his £7 million sterling move to Leeds from Derby and has agreed a five-year contract.

Tottenham's Argentinian full-back Mauricio Taricco will not be punished for the tackle that injured Everton's Thomas Gravesen and infuriated the Merseyside club in a Premiership match at Goodison Park in August.

Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has finally ended speculation about his future by signing a new five-year contract. Hendrie, has committed himself to Villa until the summer of 2006.