Middle East

Asian soccer chiefs have gaven FIFA until March to avert a regional boycott of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea by giving Asia the chance of an extra place in the finals.

Iran, the United States and Northern Ireland have been jointly awarded FIFA's 1998 Fair Play prize.

A prominent member of soccer's world governing body FIFA believes Asia is winning the battle for more places in the World Cup finals in 2002.

Africa?s hopes of staging the 2010 World Cup were dashed after more than 130 people were killed and dozens injured in a stampede at a soccer game in Ghana's capital, Accra, in Africa's worst soccer tragedy.

More than a dozen countries have declared an interest in hosting either of the next two editions of the World Club Championship, FIFA said on Thursday.

An investigation has been launched into a stadium disaster in Iran which left more than 250 people injured.

Australia's Victorian Major Events is reported to have offered a $1.2 million (US$600,000) "sweetener" to ensure that if Australia's soccer team makes it to the final phase of the World Cup qualifying campaign, the decisive match will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

North and South Korea may march together under the Olympic flag at the Sydney Olympics, and that could lead to powerful joint teams in international sporting arenas.

A delegation of the Kuala Lumpur 2006 Asian Games bidding committee has arrived in Iran for a three-day campaigning visit.

Foreign security forces accompanying athletes to the Sydney Olympics will not be allowed to carry guns to protect their delegations, according to Australian attorney-general Daryl Williams.

Iran has barred a visit by a U.S. soccer team for friendly matches on the free trade island of Kish later this month, a Kish official said on Tuesday.

European soccer's governing body UEFA has called off an international youth tournament scheduled to be held in Israel next week, an official said.

Live coverage of raging battles in Washington and Iraq resulted in predictable viewership boosts for broadcasters but it was CBS that ended up beating the competition with its broadcast of an equally historic NFL showdown.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has settled its dispute with Iraq over the venue for World Cup preliminary matches by offering another location for some of the games.

The troubled Millennium Cup soccer tournament has suffered a fresh setback with officials canceling a third-place playoff to cut losses.

An international tournament in India which promised to boast major players has been branded "a farce" after two teams withdrew, one was ruled ineligible and another failed to play because the team's baggage was delayed.