Eastern Europe

A number of leading video game manufacturers are facing legal action brought by several leading European soccer clubs.

Enic, the UK-based sports, media and leisure group with controlling interests in European club?s Slavia Prague and Vicenza as well as minority stakes in Glasgow Rangers, FC Basel and AEK Athens, has reported greatly increased half-year profits. The company made substantial gains on player trading, and the sale of part of its holdings in AEK and Autonomy, the new media company.

Imre Bozoky has been appointed the new president of Hungary?s national soccer association, the HFA.

Hungary hopes to score a first on the Internet by broadcasting a soccer game live on the web later this month, a local sports newspaper reported.

Michael Richter of the Czech advertising agency IP Praha has said his company's revenues from ads during the World Cup will bebetween 25 and 30 million crowns.

The weekend?s Hungarian Formula One race broke all records, said Janos Berenyi, chairman of the race organiser Hungaroring Sport.

Till Lufft, general secretary of the European Athletic Association has declared the organisation `very pleased? with the level of sponsor support for the European Championships which start tomorrow.

World athletics chief Primo Nebiolo has assured British Sports Minister Tony Banks that London would have a good chance of staging the 2003 world championships if proposed renovations to Wembley Stadium are completed.

UEFA has said it expects three candidates to submit bids to host the 2004 European championship.

The provisional 17-race schedule for next season was released Thursday by the FIA, auto racing's world governing body, at a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.

Austria's joint-bid with Hungary to host the 2004 European soccer Championship finals should be taken "very seriously," Beppo Mauhart, the president of the Austrian F.A., has said.

Veteran boxer Joe Bugner has weighed into a bitter debate in Australia over whether girls should be permitted to fight in the ring.

Canada has defeated the United States in the battle to become the first north American city to stage the world track and field championships.

The bidding process for the right to stage the 2004 European soccer championship moves up a gear this week when UEFA inspectors go to Spain - the first visit to one of the bidding nations.

The Argentine Grand Prix has been scrapped from the 1999 Formula One calendar, the InternationalAutomobile Federation (FIA) has announced.

The Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) faces a government probe into its financial affairs which has already cost it one official and which could lead to suspension of its operations.

FIFA has asked Hungary's sports minister to reverse his decision to suspend the leadership of the Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ), Hungarian media has reported.

Hungary's sports minister is to revoke the suspension of Hungarian Football Federation (MLSZ) president Attila Kovacs, ending a three-month dispute with FIFA.