Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

The two whistleblowers at the centre of World Cup corruption allegations have made a formal complaint to Fifa that promises of confidentiality have been breached, BBC Radio 5 live's Richard Conway reports.

Phaedra Almajid, who worked for the Qatar 2022 bid team before losing her job in 2010, said promises that her identity would be protected had been crucial to her co-operation with the ethics investigation into World Cup bidding.

She and Bonita Mersiades, who worked for Australia 2022's bid, have separately registered formal complaints against Fifa ethics committee judge Hans-Joachim Eckert.

They claim his findings contained more than enough information to make the two whistleblowers easily identifiable from previous publicly-reported statements.

It is always good to have a story involving Terry Butcher for it gives us an excuse to use this iconic photograph.

A blood-soaked bandage on the head and a shirt more red than white, this is the famous image of Butcher during a World Cup qualifier in Sweden in 1989 after he'd suffered a deep cut to the forehead.

If you're midway through your lunch, we apologise. (Or breakfast if you're in the Americas, or tea if you're in the Far East or Australia.)

Image source, Getty Images

Former England captain Terry Butcher is a man who knows one or two things about the game in Scotland.

Butcher, who has managed Motherwell, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hibernian, believes Tuesday's friendly between the two countries at Celtic Park will be the most hostile test manager Roy Hodgson's side will face before Euro 2016.

"If the England team and supporters think this is going to be comfortable, a nice quiet friendly, they have got another thing coming," Butcher told BBC Sport.

"I think that this will be, without a shadow of a doubt, the most hostile environment England will face before they get to Euro 2016."

Image source, Getty Images

Have we mentioned that tomorrow night sees the 112th meeting between Scotland and England at Celtic Park?

England manager Roy Hodgson and his Scotland counterpart Gordon Strachan are giving media conferences today.

Strachan, no doubt with a spring in his step after the win over the Republic of Ireland, is first up at 13:30 GMT, followed by Hodgson at 16:15.

We will have live coverage right here.

Carlos Sainz Jr will join Daniel Ricciardo in Red Bull's line-up at the end-of-season Formula 1 testing session in Abu Dhabi next week.

The 20-year-old, from Spain - who has been linked with the Toro Rosso team - will get one day of testing as part of a reward for taking this year's Formula Renault 3.5 title.

He will drive the Renault-powered RB10 on the opening day of the test on Tuesday 25 November, with Ricciardo taking over for the second session.

Image source, Getty Images

In addition to his row with journalists at a media briefing yesterday, Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane is not best happy with Everton manager Roberto Martinez either.

Keane, as we reported at 10:03 GMT, thinks Republic boss Martin O'Neill should seek talks with Martinez over the availability of James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman, who pulled out of a Euro 2016 qualifier in Germany through injury last month, then played for their club four days later.

"Roberto, I don't think, has ever played senior level at international level and maybe he doesn't appreciate how big it is for us and how big the games are for us," says Keane.

He adds: "I worry that he (McCarthy) is under lots of pressure, particularly from Everton's point of view."

Second reporter: "You said you wouldn't talk about Frank Gillespie (the man allegedly involved in an incident with Keane at the Irish team hotel last week) and what happened the other night. Have you anything to say about it?"

Keane: "Frank? You know him?"

Second reporter: "Yes."

Keane: "Of course you do. You know him well. You know Mick McCarthy well, don't you? You know Frank well, don't you?"

Second reporter: "Do you want to say anything about the other night?"

Keane doesn't respond. He gets up and leaves the room. As he does, the two reporters thank him. He pauses briefly and says: "'For what?"

First reporter: "For your time."

Image source, Getty Images

Keane: "You all sit there and think I've got to answer to everything? Who in the hell do you think you are? I've got to answer to you? I answer to the FAI and Martin (O'Neill). And if we don't get the right results, I'll be gone and you won't lose a minute's sleep, so don't worry about distractions. The things you write about are distractions."

Reporter: "It was an obvious thing to write about. There was an incident, so we had to write about it ... I think he (Martin O'Neill) has had enough of these (distractions)."

Keane: "Go and ask him. Go and see him in the lobby. You're not brave enough to ask him?"

Reporter: "I am brave enough to ask him."

Image source, Getty Images

Reporter: "I expect to get the stare but I'm going to ask it anyway ... Martin has been asked about distractions. Has he had enough of those distractions?"

Roy Keane: "What are you asking me for? What are you talking about? What distractions? Can I do anything about the Celtic stuff?"

Reporter: "Yeah, Celtic and Villa."

Keane: "Can I do anything about them things that come up? You're making out I'm bringing all these distractions on."

Reporter: "So they just happen, they're just coincidences?"

Keane: "Well, if a club approaches me, these things just happen, yeah. How is the book....you think the book's a distraction to a group of professional people? Do me a favour."

Another week, another controversy involving Roy Keane.

This time the Republic of Ireland - and Aston Villa - assistant boss has been involved in a row with journalists, who suggested he was becoming a distraction.

It follows the publicity surrounding Celtic's approach for Keane at the start of the season, his recently-updated biography, and an incident at the team hotel before Friday's 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat against Scotland.

Settle back and enjoy some of the fireworks that followed...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

From BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson: "Gary Paffett is to leave McLaren at the end of the season after eight years as a test driver for the team.

"The 33-year-old Englishman is to concentrate on his commitments for Mercedes in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), where he is a former champion, as McLaren start their new engine partnership with Honda in F1 after 20 years with the German company.

"Paffett drove numerous tests for McLaren, including what the team described as 'hundreds of hours' in their simulator, without ever getting a chance to race in F1."

We've been asking you to vote today on whether you would support a World Cup boycott - after former FA chairman David Bernstein suggested Europe's nations should band together to take such action and force Fifa reform.

A total of 8,500 of you voted, and the results are in:

Yes 82.65% (7,025 votes)

No 17:35% (1,475 votes)

Thank you for voting - and don't forget that you can still have your say on the matter via Twitter (#worldcupboycott),, external text (to 81111) or Facebook., external

A former Premier League footballer has denied being part of a match-fixing conspiracy.

Delroy Facey, 34, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery during a brief hearing before a judge at Birmingham Crown Court.

The former Bolton, Hull and West Brom striker is alleged to have committed the offence by offering financial advantage to others, including professional footballers, in November 2013.

Facey was bailed to appear for trial at the same court on 13 April next year.

We've been running a vote on the right-hand side of the Sportsday page asking if you would support a World Cup boycott in light of former FA chairman David Bernstein's comments. That vote has just closed - so thank you for taking part, and we will post the results shortly.

Should European nations boycott the World Cup in an attempt to force Fifa reform, as former Football Association chairman David Bernstein suggests?

Ian: There are footballers who may only get one chance to live the dream of representing their country at the World Cup... surely we should consult them and not just listen to men in suits.

We haven't had too many comments against a World Cup boycott so far - do you agree with Ian? If so, why? And if not, why not? You can tweet us using the hashtag #worldcupboycott,, external text 81111 or get in touch via our Facebook page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Schalke's director of sport Horst Heldt says the club are not interested in signing Premier League duo Andre Schurrle or Lukas Podolski in January.

Both Germany internationals are being linked with returns to the Bundesliga, as neither are regular starters for their clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal.

But Heldt tells Bild magazine: "We're not considering Schurrle at all. And the same goes for Xherdan Shaqiri and Lukas Podolski."

It's time to test your sporting knowledge with a little help from our friends at A Question of Sport., external

With England announcing their South Africa 2015-16 tour dates this morning, today's #QSTeaser from @QuestionofSport is on cricket:

Who are the only four batsmen to be in the ICC World Rankings top 10 for both one-day internationals and Tests?

Answer later on. No Googling, texting your mates or thumbing through Wisden, please.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has urged the Gunners to remain patient and not get disappointed or down.

Arsene Wenger's side went into the international break on the back of two disappointing results, the 3-3 Champions League draw with Anderlecht and a 2-1 defeat at Swansea City.

"It is a rollercoaster at the moment but we need to manage the emotion because this is a long-term situation. We need to be where we want to be in April and May, so let's be patient," Arteta tells the club website., external

"We cannot allow ourselves to be down. You need everyone on their toes and ready to fight."

Should England and the other European nations boycott the World Cup, as former FA chairman David Bernstein suggests? Here's what you've been saying on our Facebook page.

Ned Fowden:, external The only people who would miss England at the World Cup will be the England fans. I'm fairly indifferent to the International game, and most of that is down to the English FA, not Fifa.

Joe Baker-Roberts:, external Not unless all countries do it or else it will be pointless.

Stu Willetts:, external I hope England do pull out of the World Cup. Fifa needs sorting for a start. We don't stand a chance of winning anyway and it would be less embarrassing for us as a nation. No excuses needed such as ball not round enough, ball too round, ball too light, pitch not good enough. And the last point ... if we're not in it, the FA might produce an England shirt that doesn't cost £50!

Image source, Getty Images

Warrington Town's FA Cup first-round match winner Craig Robinson is set to miss out on their second-round tie at Gateshead because of suspension.

The 32-year-old defender, who scored Warrington's winner against Exeter, was sent off during the 3-0 Evo-Stik Northern Premier League defeat away at Kendal on Saturday for swearing at a match official.

It is understood he intends to appeal against his dismissal.