Portugal

Sports ministers from the 15 European Union nations are to meet in Lisbon today to decide what role the bloc should play in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and whether the EU should pay some of its running costs.

Europe is not only ready for stadium naming rights but the first companies to enter the market will get the best deals, said Charles Aster of New York-based attorneys Coudert Brothers during an afternoon work-shop at Sport Business 2000.

Adidas-Salomon has assumed full control of its subsidiary in Portugal. Following the acquisition of the entire 49% stake previously held by Portuguese investors, Adidas-Salomon now has a 100% shareholding in Adidas Portugal, which has been transformed into a stock corporation.

ISL have confirmed a sub-licensing agreement with the Portugal?s commercial free-to air broadcaster SIC for live and exclusive television coverage for the Tennis Masters and the Tennis Masters Cup in Portugal.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said he is confident of getting the Bosman Rule changed, possibly by the end of this year.

InterClubNet Ltd, the communication system provider, has unveiled InterClub, a private and secure communication and information system for football clubs and officially recognised bodies. The system, which is due to launch at the end of May, allows clubs to exchange player transfer information online, as well as providing a forum for other club business such as arranging friendly matches and merchandising agreements.

UEFA and FIFA face almost certain disappointment in their efforts to persuade the European Union to reverse some of the most damaging effects of the Bosman ruling, EU officials have warned.

Representatives from large clubs in the Netherlands, Scotland, Belgium and Portugal met in Amsterdam this week to discuss the problems of being big fish in small soccer ponds.

The Estoril Open golf tournament, scheduled for October 11-14, has been cancelled by its promoters, the European Tour said on Wednesday.

Denis O’Brien, the millionaire Irish businessman, has raised his offer to buy PGA European Tour Courses PLC, a golf course operator, by three million pounds to £35m ($51m/B

Sportsetail, the merchandising business owned as a joint venture by the UK’s Hay & Robertson and BSkyB, has reached a European product and distribution agreement with FIFA for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Portugal may not be able to host soccer’s European Championships in 2004 unless it begins building three stadiums by the autumn, according to a report.

HOK Sport has been appointed as architect for the new Benfica Stadium in Portugal.

The Argentine domestic season will finally get under way at the weekend two weeks later than planned after the second players' strike of the year delayed the start.

Alternative Investment Market (AIM)-listed sports player management and marketing agency Proactive Sports Group has reported a total of 36 player transfer deals in its football division since being admitted to AIM in May this year.

English soccer club Chelsea is in talks with Italian club Lazio about setting up a rival to the G14 group of top European clubs.