Germany

ESPN International has acquired a package of more than fifty 2002 World Cup qualifying matches from the European group, including matches involving England, Italy, Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Norway, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Denmark and Portugal.

Sports.com has been chosen as the exclusively designated Official Sports Partner of Wimbledon.org for the All England Tennis Club.

German second division soccer club Tennis Borussia Berlin has been stripped of its licence by the German soccer federation (DFB) and will not be allowed to play in the league next season because of financial problems.
Stadia

Euro 2000 organisers have rejected outright suggestions from FIFA chief Sepp Blatter that the England-Germany clash on June 17 should be moved from the stadium in Charleroi for safety reasons.
Sponsorship & Marketing

Kevin Roberts in Hanover

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has criticised Europe for fielding two competing World Cup 2006 bids and has offered encouraging words to the Brazilian bid team.
Media

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said a venue switch for the Euro 2000 match between England and Germany from the small Belgian stadium of Charleroi should be considered to minimise the risk of crowd trouble.
Stadia

The new Wembley stadium, the centrepiece of England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, has been granted planning permission, Wembley National Stadium (WNSL) said on Friday.

UK press reports suggest that European basketball faces the threat of a breakaway by leading clubs.
Media

Octagon, the global sports and marketing group, has taken a substantial equity position in one of Germany?s most famous clubs.
Business

A threatened strike by Belgian police is unlikely to have a major effect on security at next month's Euro 2000 tournament, a police union said on Friday.

French clubs looking for greater control over their television rights have stated their case at a general assembly of the national league (LNF).
Events

The reconstruction of Wembley Stadium, the centrepiece of England's 2006 World Cup bid, has been given the green light, according to UK media reports.

Belgian clubs face an increasing struggle to compete at the highest level unless they can find innovative ways to increase income, according to a study.
Business

European soccer clubs will soon have to gain a UEFA licence if they want to compete in UEFA's club competitions, its executive committee has agreed.
Business

Sportal has signed a major sponsorship deal with European online and recruitment portal StepStone.
Business

Boris Becker has criticised the new format of men's professional tennis and said that the game is heading for a crisis.
Business

German insurance group Allianz AG has formed a partnership with Formula One team BMW Williams to cooperate in sponsoring, risk management and financial services.