Middle East

Less than a week after the most exciting Super Bowl finale in years, the World Wrestling Federation has announced the formation of a competing professional football league.

International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch is to receive the top award of world swimming's governing body.

At least 11 foreign teams will take part in a soccer tournament beginning in Dhaka on August 27, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced.

The Extreme Sports Channel has extended its coverage beyond Europe after it signed a deal with pay-TV platform Showtime in the Middle East and Africa.

Eisa Al Dashti of Kuwait has withdrawn from the elections for the IAAF president and vice-president in Edmonton on August 1.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has urged caution over the possibility of a united Korean soccer team representing the divided peninsula at the finals of the Asian Cup in Lebanon later this year.

Three capital cities and Hong Kong have presented bids to host the 2006 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed.

Thailand and Indonesia were banned from international soccer by Asia's governing body on Friday following their farcical match in last month's Tiger Cup.

Former Thai soccer coach Withaya Laohakul said he hoped a decision by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to ban the country from international competition would only be a temporary punishment.

Sportal, the European sports content portal, has clashed with Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) organisers over journalistic access at one of the tournament?s matches.

Asia's premier soccer competition, the Asian Cup 2000, will go ahead in Lebanon, despite rising tensions in the Middle East.

Al Nasr of the United Arab Emirates have become the latest side to withdraw from the Asian Club Championship, pulling out of their first round clash with Iraqi side Al Zawra.

The losing investors in the failed online sportswear e-tail venture Boo.com have been identified by the Financial Times.

Malaysia, despite an economic crisis back home, wants tothe 2006 Asian Games and have appealed to other nations not to bid, saying itwould be a waste of money.

Nigeria's organising committee for next year's world youth soccer tournament said on Sunday they were confident FIFA would be satisfied by the country's preparations after an inspection this week.

FIFA officials are expecting Nigeria on Monday to inspect facilities for next year's world youth cup, a spokesman for the Nigerian tournament organisers said on Sunday.