Latin America

Chile are to press ahead with a planned bid to host the 2010 World Cup, having described a proposed rival candidature from Brazil as "pathetic".

Spain's Football Federation (RFEF) said on Monday it had provisionally withdrawn the playing licence of Alaves goalkeeper Martin Herrera. A further five players were facing investigation in its passports inquiry.

Many of Argentina's soccer clubs are flat broke with high spending leaving them paltry collective profits which barely scratches the surface of their $350 million in debts. See the FEATURES section of Sportbusiness.com for the full story.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on Friday for worldwide bans against players who are found guilty of using false passports.

Soccer's international players' union FIFpro are likely to take the European Commission to court over new rules governing soccer transfers, saying they infringe players' rights and break European law.

The International Cricket Council has approved South Africa?s proposals for the format of the 2003 World Cup.

South Africa are delaying a bid to stage the 2010 World Cup until FIFA confirm the finals will be staged somewhere in Africa.

Sky, one of the two direct-to-home services available in Latin America, has finally launched its service in Argentina.

Argentine midfielder Emiliano Romay, who plays in France for second division Nice, is being investigated over his Italian passport.

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.

Fox Sports will return to the lineup of Cablevision, Argentina's leading multi-system operator, after it agreed to cut its rates by almost half

Internet portal SportsYA.com has launched an interactive sports TV programme with Argentine TV network Azul TV.

In New Zealand the upcoming All Black rugby tests against Argentina, Ireland and Scotland could struggle to find a decent sized television audience after it was revealed that the latest broadcasting rights had been sold to newcomer TelstraSaturn.

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.

Digital satellite television service provider DirecTV Inc. said on Tuesday it bought the Latin American broadcast rights to the World Cup soccer competition in 2002 and 2006 in a deal valued at $400 million.

Victoria has won the right to host the 6th World Cup Polo Championships 2001 at The National Equestrian Centre at Werribee Park, from 28 March to 8 April 2001.