Latin America

The Brazilian championship, which has been in doubt due to a judicial battle, has been given the green light, just a week before its scheduled start.

Angry football supporters wearing red noses protested outside headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Tuesday after the four-times world champions' shock defeat by Honduras the day before.

UEFA Cup and European Super Cup winners Galatasaray and European champions Real Madrid will represent Europe at the second World Club Championship from July 29 to August 12 in Spain, FIFA said on Thursday.

The Netherlands were named the team of the year by FIFA, soccer's ruling body, on Thursday.

Dominican government leaders have applauded Santo Domingo's selection as host city for the 2003 Pan American games, but some opposition leaders dismissed spending on the sports event as inappropriate during recovery from a vicious hurricane.

Roberto `Mano de Piedra? Duran has squandered more than $25m (?28.395m) in his career which is why he needs to keep fighting at the age of 50.

Brazil has withdrawn its threat to have Barcelona thrown out of the European Champions League if they do not release Rivaldo for international duty.

China has set up a 76-member committee to organise Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Safety chiefs are checking the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff before this weekend?s World Cup game between Wales and Japan to ensure there is no repeat of last week's incident when a woman was injured by debris falling from the roof.

Argentine judge Tomas Bravo has ordered the arrest of 29 former top officials - including three ex-presidents - of the renowned Division A soccer club Racing under charges of fraudulent administration.

The president of the Colombian soccer federation (FCF), Fina Alvaro has dclared he has the support from FIFA for a 16-team Copa America in 2001 in Colombia, according to the soccer industry newsletter Soccer Investor Weekly Bulletin.

South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid committee will concentrate on the "nuts and bolts" of staging the event in its campaign rather than an emotional appeal for Africa.

The World Cup of Golf will become the fourth World Golf Championship next year with a change in format, it has been announced.

Malaysia will replace Argentina as the venue for a world motorcycling championship race on April 2 next year, officials have said.

EMC Corporation, a global provider of enterprise storage systems, software and services, has signed with the International Federation of PGA Tours to become the title sponsor of golf's World Cup and an umbrella sponsor of the World Golf Championships.

Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Inc has formed a strategic alliance with Spain's Telefonica S.A. in a deal worth about $4billion which should allow Hicks, Muse to further expand its cable television assets in Latin America.