INTER MIAMI’S FORMER Barcelona and Spain star Sergio Busquets said on Thursday he will retire from football at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer season.

The 37-year-old midfielder made the announcement in a social media post.

“These will be my last months on the pitch. I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all grateful,” Busquets said in a video on his Instagram page.

“A heartfelt thank you to everyone and to football for everything. You will always be a part of this beautiful story.”

An elegant, skillful player known for his poise and calmness on the ball, Busquets is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in history.

He was a key figure in nine Spanish league victories with Barcelona and also helped the club win three Champions League titles.

He was a member of the Spain team that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European championship, winning 143 caps.

He retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, and in 2023 headed to the United States to link up with former Barclona teammate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami.

– © AFP 2025

Friday 26 September

8.05am
AFL Women’s, Carlton v Fremantle (TNT Sports 4); Western Bulldogs v Collingwood (TNT Sports 4)

8.10am
Southland v Tasman, Rugby National Provincial Championship
Sky Sports Mix

10.45am
Cycling, UCI Road World Championships (Men’s U23 Road Race)
TNT Sports 1

11.30am
Golf, Ryder Cup (4 Foursome & 4 Fourball matches)
Sky Sports Main Event

1pm
Snooker, British Open… (later at 7pm)
ITV4

1pm 
Horse Racing, Newmarket
Virgin Media One and ITV1

1.55pm
Horse Racing, Listowel Harvest Festival
TG4

3.30pm
Cricket, India v Sri Lanka – Asia Cup
TNT Sports 3

6pm
DHL Stormers v Leinster, United Rugby Championship
TG4 and Premier Sports 1

7.30pm
Bayern Munich v Werder Bremen, Bundesliga
Bundesliga YouTube

7.45pm
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, LOI Premier Division
Virgin Media Two

7.45pm
LOI Premier Division, Galway United v Cork City; Drogheda United v Derry City; Shelbourne v Waterford; 
LOI TV

7.45pm
LOI First Division, Kerry v Treaty United; Dundalk v UCD; Cobh Ramblers v Finn Harps; Athlone Town v Wexford; Bray Wanderers v Longford Town.
LOI TV

7.45pm
Harlequins v Bath, Premiership Rugby
TNT Sports 1

7.45pm
Newcastle v Saracens, Premiership Rugby
TNT Sports Extra

8pm
West Brom v Leicester City, Championship
Sky Sports Main Event

8.05pm
Ulster v Dragons, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 1

8.05pm
Glasgow Warriors v Sharks, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 2

*****

Saturday 27 September

3am
Tennis, ATP 500 Tokyo, ATP 500 Beijing, WTA 1000 Beijing
Sky Sports Main Event

5.30am
AFL Grand Final, Geelong Cats v Brisbane Lions 
TNT Sports 1

6.05am
New Zealand v Australia, Rugby Championship
Sky Sports Main Event

10am
GAA 2025 Highlights
TG4

11am
Cycling, UCI Road World Championships (Women’s Elite Road Race)
TNT Sports 3

11.30am
Golf, Ryder Cup (4 Foursome & 4 Fourball matches)
Sky Sports Main Event

12pm
Arsenal v Aston Villa, Women’s Sports League
Sky Sports Premier League

12.30pm
Brentford v Manchester United, Premier League
TNT Sports 1

12.30pm
Coventry City v Birmingham City, Championship
Sky Sports Football

1pm
Snooker, British Open… (later at 7pm)
ITV4

1pm
Bulls v Ospreys, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 2

1.30pm
Horse Racing, Newmarket and Haydock Park
Virgin Media One and ITV1

2pm
Horse Racing, Listowel Harvest Festival
TG4

2.05pm
Cycling, Tour of Langkawi – Stage 1
TNT Sports Extra

3pm
Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Premier League
Premier Sports 1

3pm
WNL Premier Division, Bohemians v Sligo Rovers; Waterford v Shamrock Rovers; Treaty United  v Peamount United; Wexford v Galway United (6pm).
LOI TV

3.05pm
Zebre v Edinburgh, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 2

4pm
England v Canada, Women’s Rugby World Cup final
RTÉ 2 and BBC One

4.10pm
South Africa v Argentina, Rugby Championship
Sky Sports Mix

4.35pm
WNL Premier Division, Shelbourne v Athlone Town
TG4

5pm
Golf, Ryder Cup (4 Foursome & 4 Fourball matches)
Sky Sports Main Event

5.30pm
Scarlets v Munster, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 1

5.30pm
Nottingham Forest v Sunderland, Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event

5.30pm
Borussia Monchengladbach v Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga
Sky Sports Football

5.45pm
Motherwell v Aberdeen, Scottish Premiership
Premier Sports 2

7.45pm
Sligo Rovers v St Patrick’s Athletic, LOI Premier Division
LOI TV

7.45pm
Connacht v Benetton, United Rugby Championship
TG4 and Premier Sports 1

7.45pm
Cardiff v Lions, United Rugby Championship
Premier Sports 2

8pm
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves, Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event

8pm
M, French Top 14 Rugby 
Premier Sports 2

10.30pm
Match Of The Day
BBC One

*****

Sunday 28 September

3am
UFC Fight Night, Carlos Ulberg v Dominick Reyes
TNT Sports 1

4am
Tennis, ATP 500 Tokyo, ATP 500 Beijing, WTA 1000 Beijing
Sky Sports Tennis

4.05am
AFL Women’s, St Kilda v Port Adelaide (TNT Sports Extra); Adelaide Crows v Sydney Swans (TNT Sports 3 – 6.05am); Brisbane Lions v Richmond (TNT Sports 1 – 6.05am); West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants (TNT Sports 1 – 8.05am)

8.30am
Cycling, UCI Road World Championships (Men’s Elite Road Race)
TNT Sports 3

12pm
Women’s Super League; Liverpool v Manchester United (Sky Sports Main Event); Brighton v Everton (Sky Sports +); Leicester v Tottenham (Sky Sports +); Manchester City v London City (Sky Sports Mix)

1pm
Snooker, British Open… (later at 7pm)
ITV4

1pm
Northampton v Exeter Chiefs, Premiership Rugby
TNT Sports 1

2pm
Thomastown v Ballyhale Shamrocks, Kilkenny senior hurling quarter-final
TG4 

2pm
Aston Villa v Fulham, Premier League
Sky Sports Premier League

2pm
NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers v Minnesota Vikings
Virgin Media One and Sky Sports NFL

3pm
Livingston v Rangers, Scottish Premiership
Sky Sports Football

3.30pm
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers, Premiership Rugby
TNT Sports 1

3.30pm
Cricket, Asia Cup Final
TNT Sports 2

4pm
Slaughtneil v Lavey, Derry senior football quarter-final
TG4

4.30pm
Newcastle United v Arsenal, Premier League
Sky Sports Main Event

4.30pm
Golf, Ryder Cup (12 Singles matches)
Sky Sports Golf

6pm
NFL, Atlanta Falcons v Washington Commanders
Sky Sports Football

6pm
NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Philadelphia Eagles
Sky Sports NFL

7pm
Golf, Ryder Cup (12 Singles matches)
Sky Sports Main Event

7.45pm
AC Milan v Napoli, Serie A
TNT Sports 1

8pm
Barcelona v Real Sociedad, La Liga
Premier Sports 1

9.05pm
NFL, San Francisco 49ers v Jacksonville Jaguars
Sky Sports Football

9.25pm
NFL, Kansas City Chiefs v Baltimore Ravens
Sky Sports Main Event

10.30pm
Match Of The Day
BBC One

1.20am (Monday)
NFL, Dallas Cowboys v Green Bay Packers
Sky Sports Main Event

David Sneyd

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER visit to Leinster House for representatives of a sport in Ireland.

Twenty four hours after the FAI’s appearance in front of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, there were guests welcomed in far more cordial terms at the behest of Senator Garret Ahearn.

The Fine Gael rep for Tipperary invited Willie Mullins, Aidan O’Brien, Rachael Blackmore, Jane Mangan, and Horse Racing Ireland CEO Suzanne Eade to give a presentation to Oireachtas members on the economic and social impact of the thoroughbred breeding and racing industry to Ireland.

It is not hard at all to draw drastic contrasts with events a day previously.

From left: Senator Garret Ahearn, Willie Mullins, Rachael Blackmore, Aidan O’Brien, Suzanne Eade and Jane Mangan speaking at Leinster House yesterday. Morgan Treacy / INPHO


Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Even before Wednesday, there were any number of worthy column topics this week.

The Beat was at Dalymount Park on Friday night to watch Stephen McMullan concede one of the worst own goals in memory.

How does a goalkeeper cope after something like that?

On Monday, Mason Melia celebrated turning 18 with two goals for St Patrick’s Athletic on what could be an extremely successful farewell tour.

The Republic of Ireland U21 international is just one goal shy of Padraig Amond’s tally of 13 at the top of the scoring charts.

A general view of the attendance at a presentation from horse racing figures for TD’s and Senators yesterday. Morgan Treacy / INPHO


Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

With five Premier Division games to go, what a story it would be for Melia to bid farewell to the League of Ireland as top scorer before arriving at Tottenham Hotspur in January.

Possibly even with a second FAI Cup winners’ medal in his pocket, too.

The Beat will be travelling to Prague with Shamrock Rovers next Wednesday as they begin their Uefa Conference League league phase campaign.

Stephen Bradley could have regained the Premier Division title – their fifth in six seasons – by the time they board, should they beat Bohemians in their Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium and Derry City fail to beat Drogheda United in Louth tonight.

The story of that inevitability will soon be written.

Dundalk are also on the brink of returning to the Premier Division under Ciaran Kilduff, although they stuttered last week. Despite a six-point lead with four games to go, a look at the fixture list with a mischievous eye throws up the tantalising prospect of the Lilywhites somehow going to the final day of the season when they face a trip to second-placed Cobh Ramblers.

Dundalk fans are probably braced for such a scenario given the last five years – and it won’t be lost on some how the first title delivered by Stephen Kenny in 2014 was also won in a final night duel with Cork City.

And yet, despite all of this, it’s an interview that took place on the footpath outside Leinster House on Wednesday that was always the catalyst for this column.

It was there, after just shy of three hours as chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Sport, that Alan Kelly took questions from reporters following that appearance from the FAI that he labelled as “disrespectful to the Irish people.”

While the FAI delegation carried out a debrief just across the road in Buswells Hotel, and buses whizzed along between shouts from protestors holding placards decrying ‘Ireland’s Shame’ (they weren’t there for the FAI, it must be said), Deputy Kelly confirmed that he would be writing to Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan and that funding being sought for Irish football in the upcoming Budget could be withheld as a result of the FAI’s “unprecedented” and “farcical” committee appearance.

We say funding for Irish football and not the FAI, because that is exactly how CEO David Courell framed it too, clearly aware that creating as much distance as possible is a necessity.

And that is of course the case giving the ask is being made from the League of Ireland department in Abbotstown on behalf of academies throughout the country.

The main hope now is that decision makers in Leinster House, those who have already built up a steady rapport with League of Ireland officials, are able to differentiate between the executive of the FAI and not let the fallout from this week’s Oireachtas committee colour their thinking completely.

“Financial supports cannot be withdrawn because the government is annoyed with how the FAI were unable to answer questions at the committee,” Sinn Féin spokesperson on Sport, Joanna Byrne TD, said.

FAI CEO David Courell at Leinster House on Wednesday. Andrew Conan / INPHO


Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO

Deputy Byrne was on that Joint Oireachtas Committee and is also chairwoman of Drogheda United.

At various stages this year overarching issues at the FAI have prevented League of Ireland officials from properly advancing their case for the required funding over the next 11 years, building slowly over the next 24 months to a top end amount of €8 million per year that will then taper off for the final few years.

On 30 April, for example, 90 TDs and Senators from all parties welcomed Courell, LOI academy director Will Clarke, and FAI grassroots director Ger McDermott for presentations – similar to the ones from horse racing yesterday.

Courell spoke first for up to 20 minutes, providing updates on governance as well as Euro 2028 plans, and then Clarke gave a 15-minute update on their timeframe for a funding document for academies.

Then it was the turn of McDermott to make his presentation, and the questions that followed over the following 30 minutes were solely related to the aligned calendar and its impact on grassroots football.

The Beat spoke to Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin’s deputy leader in the Dáil, and party spokesperson on Finance, after that meeting as he was one of those in attendance.

Like many others, he was impressed by the League of Ireland’s academy plan and stated vision, but the issues around the aligned calendar are what dominated his thoughts because they were being fed back to him locally.

There are those who believe that when the League of Ireland received funding from Government of €1m to help towards the audit of acadmies it was a litmus test of their own ability to produce a dilligent and professional piece of work on time and within budget following a neccessary procurement process.

They delivered on all fronts, and the results were stark, laying bare how League of Ireland academies lag behind countries ranked 51-100 by Fifa.

It was the result of more than three months of non-stop graft to ensure the audit was produced on time, coming off the back of numerous seven-day working weeks, late nights and lost weekends to try and provide an honest assessment of where Irish football finds itself.

It’s in a black hole, and only financial assistance will provide any hint of light for those people dedicating their lives to Irish football, the same people who have already shown they are worthy of our trust to finally drag player development here into the 21st century.