Middle East

Speaking to sportbusiness.com, a senior executive at English soccer sponsors Nationwide has slated suggestions by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to reduce the size of the top soccer leagues - claiming it will have major negative impacts on commercials deals.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to put forward proposals to reduce the number of teams in the major domestic soccer leagues.

Beer giant Budweiser is close to agreeing a deal to sponsor Formula One team BMW Williams in a five-and-a-half year contract, reportedly worth EUR14.5m ($16.6m) a year.

Jordan F1 Grand Prix team has concluded a sponsorship agreement with scooter firm Piaggio.

The ongoing legal case between Vodafone and F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has taken another twist after the High Court heard that the telecommunications firm did not inform Jordan that it had signed a deal to sponsor rival team Ferrari.

The agent at the centre of the negotiations between Eddie Jordan and Vodafone requested money from both parties, a court heard yesterday.

Formula One's world governing body has made a major u-turn and scrapped its plans for a ban on tobacco advertising in 2006.

Despite the war in Iraq impacting on most US network's TV viewing figures, Fox Sports' coverage of the first half of the NASCAR season maintained its television audience levels from last year.

Hong Kong is to bid to host the 5th East Asian Games scheduled to be held in 2009.

Nike has continued its post-Michael Jordan basketball strategy by signing up Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Meetings will take place in Kuwait this week to discuss how to rebuild the Iraqi Olympic programme, following the recent regime change in the country.

Bernie Ecclestone will be forced to give car manufacturers a bigger slice of TV revenues to prevent the formation of a breakaway motorsports series, the Jordan team's marketing chief believes.

Qatar will host a round of the MotoGP championship next season after signing a deal with the property's commercial partnering agency Dorna Sports.

The sale of the new Wembley Stadium's premier seating and hospitality programme could not have been achieved last year to the slump in the economy, a senior IMG executive has confirmed.

The Jordan Formula One team is bringing legal proceedings against Vodafone, claiming that the mobile phone company reneged on an agreed sponsorship deal.

The Belgian government is planning a last-ditch attempt to help its Spa motor racing arena regain its place on the Formula One circuit.