Africa
Business

The chief executive officer of South Africa's bid committee for the 2006 Soccer World Cup has told the South African Cabinet that he is extremly confident the country will be awarded the event, the Pan African News Agency reports.

South Africa says it is trying to persuade Morocco to quit the race to host the 2006 World Cup finals and allow it to be Africa's sole candidate.

Press reports from Nigeria say the country's sports ministry has failed to persuade players on the national soccer team to collect a t$2,500 dollars bonus for winning their match against Tunisia.
Media

Romanian national coach Anghel Iordanescu has accused the country's soccer authorities of endangering the country's World Cup chances by denying him funds, facilities and competitive warm-up matches.
Events

Dealers say foreign exchange trade in London, the world's busiest currency market, will slow to a trickle next Monday when England makes its debut in the World Cup.
Media

Soccer's improving commercial image was under threat today after English soccer hooligans ran amok in Marseille on Sunday, battling Tunisians, police and local people in a series of running battles ahead of a World Cup match.
Media

England will not be barred from the World Cup finals despite the behaviour of its hooligan fans, FIFA said on Monday.
Business

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will send another inspection team to Zimbabwe next week to look at progress in the preparations for the hosting of the African Nations Cup finals in 2000.
Business

FIFA and FIFPro have finally reached agreement about FIFPro's participation in the implementation of FIFA's new regulations on the international transfers of football players.
Business

Tunisia's government, under fire at home and abroad for its human rights record, is banking on a forthcoming two-week international sport festival to present the "true reality" of the country, officials have said.
Stadia

The International Cricket Council has approved South Africa?s proposals for the format of the 2003 World Cup.

South Africa has shrugged off fears that the threat of crime and small crowds would tarnish the 11-day All Africa Games, which start this week.
Business

Nairobi will host the 2000 International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day knockout tournament between the nine test playing nations, the ICC has confirmed.
Business

Former South African President Nelson Mandela has been vindicated by the country's top court when it reversed an earlier defeat for the government in a controversial case over rugby.
Events

South African World Cup 2006 bid officials are planning a charm offensive in Europe later this month, trying to convince European members of the FIFA executive committee of the merits of their candidacy.

A Singapore cricket official has said an apparent match-fixing attempt in last week's Singapore International Challenge final between India and West Indies was shocking and may have come from abroad.
Events

CSI has extended its television rights contract with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.

Ali Bacher, chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) development committee, has said the number of teams at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa should be increased from 12 to 14.