United Kingdom

After taking bets for over two years on who will win the right to stage the World Cup 2006, UK betting firm William Hill have finally closed their book ? just days before the FIFA executive committee finally votes on who will stage the tournament.

Germany and South Africa emerged as clear joint favourites to stage the 2006 World Cup on Friday after the leaking of a confidential FIFA report ranking them as technically the best bids.

FIFA, world soccer?s governing body, appears to be back-tracking over a confidential report which ranked England's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup below that of rivals Germany and South Africa.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)

Peter Robinson, former Executive Vice Chairman at Liverpool Football Club, is to join sports marketing agency ISM as Head of UK Operations

English Premier League club Newcastle United has won a legal battle against supporters who objected to losing their regular seats at the St James's Park stadium.

Barry Snellgrove has joined John Taylor International, the sports sponsorship consultancy, as business development director to head up the agency's new business drive.

Support is growing for a proposed new #7million indoor training track to be built in Swansea, Wales.

The New York investment banking firm, E.M. Warburg, Pincus and Co, which is currently looking to buy D.C. United's operating rights is also seeking to control a second Major League Soccer team, reports the Washington Post.

European soccer's governing body UEFA issued an official apology on Wednesday after a report on its media information website attacking England's Euro 2000 performances caused a major stir in Britain.

A legal bout against former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has been settled at London's High Court.

European governing body UEFA attempted to bring calm to a storm in England on Wednesday after a report on its media information website attacked the national side for its performances at Euro 2000.

England?s Euro 2000 campaign may have been marked by disappointment on the field and shame off it, but this hasn?t stopped sales of replica England shirts from adding to the quarterly profits of the nation?s largest sports retailer.

UEFA has said it will not punish English soccer for the violent scenes during Euro 2000 with a ban on its clubs entering European competition.

Former London Metropolitan police chief Paul Condon has been appointed to head the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption body set up to eradicate match-fixing from the game.

A former commissioner of London?s Metropolitan police force has been named the new anti-corruption chief of cricket?s governing body.

Alec McGivan, the director of England's campaign to stage the 2006 World Cup, has questioned the motives behind UEFA's threat to expel England from Euro 2000 following incidents of hooliganism.

Soft drink giants Pepsi and Coca-Cola are reported to be on the verge of a major battle to land the prestigious title sponsorship of England?s Premier League.