Media

FIFA will decide on Monday whether the World Club Championship, due to be held in Spain at the end of July, will go ahead as planned, the Spanish Football Federation said on Friday.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dismissed suggestions it could be accused of nepotism in putting forward the son of president Juan Antonio Samaranch for election to the organisation in July.

French media giants Vivendi Universal withdrew its bid for the ISMM/ISL sports rights and marketing company, forcing the Swiss company into bankruptcy, because it would require too much investment, a spokesman said.

Swiss marketing firm ISMM has been declared officially bankrupt after French media giants Vivendi Universal pulled out of a possible takeover, soccer's world governing body FIFA has confirmed to sportbusiness.com

Shares in Betinternet.com, the internet sports betting company, soared 14 percent to 28p today after it said it had received approaches from predators which could lead to an offer.

Swiss marketing company ISMM, which went officially bankrupt on Thursday, lacked a deep enough understanding of its sporting contracts which ultimately led to its downfall, according to broadcast and media analysts.

ZOO Digital, the UK-based company that helps brands optimise financial returns for their sponsoring rights, has bought digital marketing firm Startle Digital for an undisclosed sum.

The world of squash is set to be revolutionised by the launch of a strategic partnership between the Professional Squash Association, and the international marketing and sports rights company, Eye Group in tandem with its investment arm Fablon Investments Ltd.

Global foreign exchange company Travelex is to sponsor the Australian cricket team's shirt during the Ashes tour in the UK.

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has signed a five-year contract worth an estimated 800m rupees ($17m) with sports management company WorldTel.

ESPN Regional Television, a subsidiary of ESPN Inc, has bought the Las Vegas Bowl from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

UK online sports companies will continue to struggle in the coming years - even with the extra revenue benefits from online gambling, according to a new report.

Drafting on the surging popularity of NASCAR stock car racing, a New York sports marketing firm unveiled plans on Tuesday for a racing league with up to a dozen teams set to begin competing in 2003.

BBC Sport unveiled its plans for interactive coverage of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships starting this June.

The European Broadcasters Union (EBU) has selected PanAmSat to provide full-time video contribution services to support live coverage of prominent sporting and special events from the Americas.

Barclaycard has decided not sponsor the English Premier League televised highlights show, weeks after the credit card company agreed to pay #48m ($68m) to sponsor the League for three years.

Opponents of the proposed #100m ($143m) London City racecourse are this week arguing against the scheme at a public inquiry at Ilford Town Hall.

Germany's top soccer club Bayern Munich said on Wednesday it was not in talks to sell a stake to sports retailing giant adidas-Salomon but a stock market listing or strategic partnership were possible.