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The FIFA World Cup 2014 will be staged in South America, soccer's world governing body has confirmed.

Soccerex 2003 has confirmed the inclusion of a number of new exhibitors attending this year's event at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai on March 23-24.

The world’s sporting goods manufacturers have been challenged to find a solution to a problem, which is effectively barring Muslim women from many sports and competitions.

In preparation for the 2006 Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar, the organisers are meeting with a number of high-level facilities management professionals from France next month.

The FIFA Statutes Revision Committee will meet for the first time in Zurich on November 3-4.

The FIFA Executive Committee has two new members for the 2002-2004 period, following the confederation congresses in Oceania and Asia.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has won a gagging order to prevent the president of the Somalian Football Association, Farah Addo, spreading bribery accusations.

The FIFA executive committee member accused of being involved in a bribery scandal surrounding the 1998 election of Sepp Blatter as president has angrily denied he was involved.

The Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) will start a five-year development programme from 2002 targeted for the 2006, when the Asian Games will be held in Qatar.

Japanese advertising giants Dentsu has obtained the exclusive marketing rights for the fourteenth Asian Games in Busan (Pusan), Korea.

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.

A FIFA health team inspecting Nigerian facilities for next year's World Youth Cup has cited inadequate emergency and laboratory facilities at match venues.

A top Asian sports official has said there was growing support within the region for a boycott of the 2002 World Cup in protest at Asia's representation in the finals.

A team from world soccer governing body FIFA has begun inspecting hotels in eight Nigerian cities to decide if they are good enough to be used at the World Youth Cup in April, organisers have announced.