Italy

The UK government has repelled efforts by Leo Kirch to get round British legislation that protects every World Cup match from being broadcast on pay-TV.

Australian Rugby Union (ARU) managing director John O'Neill wants France and England to join Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the Tri-Nations series, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Cycling's international governing body plans to crack down on the use of performance-enhancing drugs during the 2001 season, according to its president Hein Verbruggen.

Tim Clarke, chief director airline, Air Emirates, the new $36million shirt sponsors of Premier League club Chelsea, has told sportbusiness.com why the west London club was chosen as ?one of the cornerstones of the Emirates global portfolio of sponsorships?

The Belgian FA has said it was handing over its investigation into an alleged bribery scandal involving a Yugoslav agent and first division leaders Club Bruges to soccer's world governing body FIFA.

The Belgian FA said on Friday it would decide on what action to take in an alleged bribery scandal involving a Yugoslav agent and first division leaders Club Bruges.

An Italian court has launched an investigation into alleged "sporting fraud" by cycling champion Marco Pantani, Italy's ANSA news agency reported on Wednesday. A court in the north Italian town of Trento had listed the former Tour de France winner as under investigation, ANSA said.

Swatch Group has signed a long-term partnership agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in areas of timing, scoring and results-keeping.

The Euro 2000 Foundation closed its doors and its books yesterday with an 18 million euro ($17 million) profit to be channelled to youth football in the Netherlands and Belgium, the tournament's co-hosts.

The Czech Olympic Committee (COV) voted Milan Jirasek back for a second term as its president on Wednesday after no other candidates ran for the post.

Italian champions Lazio will move out of the Olympic Stadium to a new 50,000-capacity ground in the suburbs of Rome surrounded by restaurants and hotels, the club said on Monday.

Belgian champions Anderlecht has said they had been invited to join the so-called G14 lobby group that unites some of Europe's premier soccer clubs.

Soccer legend Diego Maradona was met on his arrival in Rome on Thursday by tax authorities and police who told him he owed about 50 billion lire ($24.6 million) to Italian tax authorities, police sources said.

England and Manchester United soccer star David Beckham is set to become the highest-paid player in the world if his demands for a #100,000 ($160,000) a week salary are accepted by his club.

Exxus, the sports business to business information provider, has won the contract to supply the English PFA (Professional Footballers Association) statistics on players, matches and teams for its 'Give Me

Juventus star and FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane found himself caught between two car companies after appearing in a television commercial for US giant Ford.