MENA
Dubai investment group to acquire Real Zaragoza – reports
Royal Emirates Group, a Dubai-based investment group chaired by HRH Sheikh Butti Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, has reportedly acquired a football team from La Liga in a deal worth about US$90 million.
Five in running to host 2017 IAAF World Championships
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced on Thursday that the governing body had received letters of intent from five countries to stage the 2017 World Championships.
Doha enters running for 2017 IAAF World Championships
The Qatar Olympic Committee has announced that Doha is bidding to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships.
State of emergency set to destroy Bahrain F1 hopes
Bahrain’s hopes of staging Formula One action this year appear to have disintegrated after the Gulf state declared a three-month state of emergency on Tuesday.
Bin Hammam set to confirm Blatter challenge on Friday
Mohamed Bin Hammam is expected to confirm his candidacy for the FIFA presidential elections later this week after announcing that he will hold a press conference in Malaysia on Friday.
Bahrain set May 1 deadline to confirm F1 grand prix plans
Organisers of the postponed Bahrain Formula One grand prix have been given until May 1 to decide whether or not they will be able to stage the race later in the 2011 calendar.
Iran in London Games boycott threat over logo
Iran has threatened to boycott the London 2012 Olympics after claiming the Games' logo is “racist”.
Bahrain won’t have to pay F1 hosting fee – Ecclestone
Bahrain will not have to forfeit its US$40 million staging fee after calling off the opening Formula One grand prix of the season, according to Bernie Ecclestone.
Political instability costs Bahrain F1 opener
The opening Grand Prix of the Formula One season in Bahrain has been called off after a wave of anti-government protests in the country forced Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to forfeit the hosting rights to the event.
Bahrain GP in danger as Shanghai secures F1 future
Formula One's season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain could be called off due to worrying instability in the country, according to the sport’s commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
Bahrain officials vow to deliver safe Grand Prix
Bahrain Grand Prix officials have pledged to deliver a safe race next month despite fears from Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone about growing unrest in the country.
Blatter claims 2022 summer World Cup is “settled”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has performed an apparent u-turn on an earlier suggestion that he expected the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to take place in the winter.
Qatar lands Handball World Championships
Qatar has further enhanced its sports event portfolio after being awarded the men’s 2015 World Handball Championships.
Al Jazeera signs on for home World Cup
FIFA has secured its first broadcast partner for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after extending its existing deal with Al Jazeera Sport.
United rubbishes fresh takeover reports
Manchester United has again been forced to deny that the club is the subject of a takeover approach from Qatar Holding LLC after the Sunday Times reported that the sovereign wealth fund had held talks about a £1.5 billion deal.
FIFA insists winter World Cup is not set in stone
FIFA has insisted there are “no concrete plans” to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the winter – a move that would cause huge disruption to the European football calendar.
Rogge wants FIFA talks over winter World Cup proposal
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge has asked FIFA to hold talks with the governing body before making any decision on whether to stage the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the winter.
Platini calls for Gulf World Cup in 2022
The 2022 FIFA World Cup should be played across the Arabian Gulf rather than just in Qatar, according to UEFA chief Michel Platini.