Malta

'Black Betsy', the favorite bat of banned baseball legend "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, was sold for $577,610 (?654,145) in an internet auction on eBay.

German media group Kirch has agreed to buy Swiss sports rights marketing company CWL Telesport & Marketing AG in a move to expand its international soccer business.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been fined 50,000 Swiss francs ($32,000) for not playing their European championship qualifier against Yugoslavia on June 5.

UEFA have thrown down the gauntlet to their own clubs, the European Commission and upstart rivals Media Partners and have announced far-reaching plans for the reorganisation of European club soccer.

South African World Cup 2006 bid officials are planning a charm offensive in Europe later this month, trying to convince European members of the FIFA executive committee of the merits of their candidacy.