Sub-Saharan Africa

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

European soccer's governing body UEFA has said it would propose a joint meeting with world body FIFA in March to coordinate efforts to combat drugs.

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.

A FIFA delegation was reported to be satisfied with facilities in Lagos as it began a final inspection to decide if Nigeria should host the World Youth Cup.

Germany's Football Association still plan to visit Qatar next month following new FIFA guidelines aimed at avoiding any trace of scandal in the bid to stage the 2006 World Cup.

A FIFA team on a final inspection of Nigerian facilities for the World Youth Cup has criticised the stadiums at two venues.

The United Nations investigator for children's rights has reported that professional soccer had joined the list of sectors shamed by child trafficking from underdeveloped countries.

The Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona, the venue for tonight's European Cup final, could soon be staging matches involving a Catlan "national" team.

The draw for the 2002 World Cup, the biggest in the tournament's 69-year history, will involve 195 nations and be seen live on Tuesday by a television audience of about one billion people.

The draw for the 2002 World Cup, the biggest in the tournament's 69-year history, will involve 195 nations and be seen live on Tuesday by a television audience of about one billion people.

A sell-out crowd and record viewing figures have all but been ensured by the presence of the US team in next Saturday's Women's World Cup Final at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.

Organisers of the 2003 All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria have added a number of sports to the event's line-up in a bid to make it the biggest in its history.

The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) and players have resolved a dispute over bonus payments after a tense standoff at the weekend.

About 100 Olympic family members who overstayed their visas and remained illegally in Australia following the Sydney Games have ignored Immigration Department warnings to get out, a spokesman has said.

The Netherlands were named the team of the year by FIFA, soccer's ruling body, on Thursday.

Portugal have rejected a proposal to play a friendly against a Catalan "national" team at Barcelona's Nou Camp because of the hostile reception given to Real Madrid?s Luis Figo by Barcelona fans, Spanish newspapers have reported.