Italy

Media Partners, the company behind the failed bid to launch a European Super League, says it is ready to launch another attempt to set up a privately-run elite soccer competition.

Italian champions AC Milan will launch their own television channel in January, the club has announced.

Sportal, the independent Internet-based sports media company has announced the completion of a $50 million equity financing valuing the company at over $170 million.

Italian first division soccer club AS Roma has said its shareholders have approved a plan to seek a listing on the Milan stock exchange.

Prize money for the Sanex WTA Tour will be increased by more than $3 million for the 2000 season, organisers have announced.

Sportal, the sports online business, has signed as exclusive Internet partner of Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid in a deal which will see Real promote the Sportal brand off-line.

Italian sport faced the prospect of a fresh drugs scandal after a national newspaper published the names of 22 top athletes who it claimed took part in an extensive blood doping programme.

The Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said on Wednesday it had summoned Amore Vita cycling team director Gianluigi Barsottelli to a hearing on January 7 over doping allegations. CONI said in a statement its anti-doping commission had summoned Barsottelli after studying documents from Bologna magistrates who have been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into alleged doping in cycling. A spokesman for the Italian Professional Cyclists' League said Barsottelli's team was affiliated to the English cycling federation this year.

The shareholders of AS Roma have approved the club seeking an IPO, according to the soccer industry newsletter, The Soccer Investor Weekly Bulletin.

Italian first division soccer club AS Roma has called an extraordinary shareholders meeting for January 20 to seek approval of a plan for a capital increase of up to 79 million euros ($80.9 million).

Italy's Espresso publishing group says that its Internet arm Kataweb SpA had bought 70 percent of Studio Vit Srl, owner of online fantasy football game Fantacalcio.

Said CSA president Jim Fleming: "We have requested this information from FIFA with a view towards submitting a bid for the 2003 World Youth Championship

FIFA vice-president David Will, has cautioned Celtic and Rangers against setting up a proposed Atlantic League without authorisation from the world's governing body.

Italy's soccer players' union has said planned industrial action to protest against non-payment of damages and disruption to matches caused by television scheduling could hit league games on January 30.

Glasgow Rangers and Celtic plan to lobby the Scottish Football Association and UEFA in order to create a second string European league that would effectively end the UEFA Cup.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has entered into a marketing partnership with Subaru of America, Inc, whereby Subaru vehicles will be provided for use by LPGA staff and extend to programmes with designated LPGA Tour events and selected LPGA Tour players.