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RECORD ENTRIES FOR ATHLETICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - 05 Apr 2006

Nine countries from five continents (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania) have submitted bids, with the winner to be chosen by the IAAF Council in Spring 2007. The full list is:

The IAAF says a record number of countries have declared an interest to host the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.

G14 PLEDGE TO CONTINUE CAMPAIGN - 28 Nov 2005

The group says this will remain the case even if it loses a key court action against FIFA on March 20.

The General Secretary of the G14 group of leading football clubs says it will continue to press for changes in the relationship between clubs and soccer’s international governing bodies.

OULMERS CASE SET FOR SOCCEREX DEBATE - 07 Nov 2005

Last season, the Belgian first division club Charleroi withdrew Oulmers from the Morocco squad for a friendly against Burkina Faso to protect him from injury.

Soccerex will host a debate on the key legal battle between G14-backed Charleroi and FIFA over the injury to Moroccan International Abdelmajid Oulmers.

G14 STEPS UP PRESSURE ON FIFA - 07 Sep 2005

The issue relates to compensation for players injured while on international duty.

Europe's elite G14 soccer clubs have thrown their weight behind a relatively obscure Belgian first division team in a legal challenge with FIFA.

G14 BEGINS LEGAL BATTLE WITH FIFA - 07 Sep 2005

The G14 group - made up of 18 of Europe's most powerful clubs - wants soccer's world governing body to provide insurance and compensation to clubs for players who are injured while representing their

Europe's elite clubs are suing FIFA over the release of players for international duty.

AUSTRALIA SET FOR WORLD CUP BID - 06 Sep 2005

The Sydney Morning Herald reports Football Federation Australia CEO John O’Neill has confirmed his intent to bid.

Australia is to hold talks during this weekend’s FIFA Congress in Morocco ahead of a likely bid to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup

FIFA ORDER QUALIFYING CLASH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - 25 Jul 2005

The decision was passed by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee after a 15 year-old fan was killed at Kenya's 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Morocco in Nairobi on 18 June.

Kenya will play their home 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Tunisia on September 2 behind closed doors.

RFL CONFIRMS EUROPEAN NATIONS CUP - 22 Feb 2005

Delegates at the Rugby League European Federation confirmed at a meeting on Friday that the tournament will be played and that the final will be held on the weekend of November 5-6.

Rugby League’s European Nations Cup will be staged for the third successive year this autumn.

SPORTS CITY TO INCLUDE CRICKET ACADEMY - 30 Sep 2004

The academy will be an international centre of excellence for cricket bringing together the skills and facilities to allow cricket players including juniors, coaches, umpires, curators and administrat

Dubai Sports City, the world's first integrated purpose-built sports city, is to host the first International Cricket Council (ICC) global cricket academy.

LEBANON HOSTS RUGBY LEAGUE CUP - 06 Sep 2004

The tournament, to be staged for the third successive year in Lebanon, will once again be played under the auspices of the minister of youth and sport, Dr Sebouh Hovnanian, and in association with the

The Lebanese Rugby League is set to host the Mediterranean Cup next month, from October 2 to 9 in Tripoli, north Lebanon.

D-day dawns for Africa - 14 May 2004

The bidders will present to the FIFA Executive Committee in Zurich this afternoon.

The five African nations looking to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup will today make their final presentations to world soccer’s governing body before tomorrow’s big vote.

Tunisia quits 2010 race - 10 May 2004

Tunisia had hoped to present a co-hosting proposal to FIFA’s ruling body along with Libya.

With a decision due next weekend, Tunisia has made the life of the FIFA Executive Committee a little easier, by withdrawing its bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

SA leads FIFA 2010 race - 05 May 2004

But hopes of Morocco finally winning the right to host the tournament have taken a major blow after the report raised concerns over stadia plans.

South Africa has reconfirmed its position as favourite to host the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with the governing body’s technical report declaring it an ‘excellent’ potential host.

FIFA unveils 2010 report - 04 May 2004

The technical reports into the five African bidding nations hoping to host the tournament will be published on the FIFA.com website at 1800 GMT.

Africa will discover which of its competing nations is leading the race to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup later today.

FIFA to unveil 2010 reports - 27 Apr 2004

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the details – which will give a clear indication of which nation is most likely to win the race for the tournament – will be posted on its official website, FIFA.c

The technical reports into the five African bidding nations hoping to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be published next week.

Spain backs Morocco for 2010 - 26 Apr 2004

During a visit to Morocco – bidding to become the first African state to host a World Cup – Zapatero said his government would ‘fully support’ the Moroccan bid.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has pledged his country’s support to Morocco as the race to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup enters the final straight.

Matthaus backs Morocco - 30 Mar 2004

With a final decision on who will host the first ever African World Cup due in less than two months, Matthaus said he believed the north Africans would offer the ‘best facilities’, and ‘friendli

Former German soccer captain Lothar Matthaus has added his support to Morocco’s bid to host the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

Morocco wins Senegal support - 24 Mar 2004

Senegal sports minister Youssoupha Ndiaye said: “I want to affirm the support of Senegal for the ambition of Morocco to host the World Cup.

Senegal has come out in support of Morocco’s bid to land the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Beckenbauer blasts rotation plans - 04 Mar 2004

Beckenbauer, president of the 2006 World Cup organising committee, issued a stinging attack on the method of choosing hosts during a visit to Dubai.

Franz Beckenbauer has blasted FIFA’s rotation policy for future World Cups.

Jordaan 'optimistic' over 2010 bid - 03 Mar 2004

With the race to host the first World Cup in Africa hotting up just months before a final decision is made, South Africa is hoping desperately it will make up for losing out to Germany in 2006.

The team behind the South African bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup say they are ‘optimistic’ of victory – but said rival bids from Egypt and Morocco could not be dismissed.

Rothenberg teams up with Morocco - 26 Feb 2004

Alan Rothenberg, who was chairman and CEO of the 1994 organising committee, was also chairman of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, president of the US Soccer Federation, founder of Major League Socce

The chief of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US has confirmed he is to play a key role in Morocco’s push to host the 2010 tournament.

Morocco gets backing - 23 Feb 2004

Scolari, now manager of Portugal – the host nation for this summer’s Euro 2004 event – said he had visited the country and its facilities and been impressed.

Morocco’s bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup has received a boost after Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who led Brazil to their 2002 World Cup victory, publicly spoke out in support.

Hayatou wins CAF vote - 22 Jan 2004

Hayatou – who hit the headlines two years ago when he stood as the sole candidate against FIFA president Sepp Blatter in the FIFA presidential election race – easily beat off the challenge of Bots

Issa Hayatou has won a landslide victory to remain as president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) – and will lead the build-up to the first FIFA World Cup to be staged on the continent in 2010.

FIFA visits Libya - 05 Jan 2004

The five-man team will spend a week in Libya, one of the five countries hoping to land the right to host the event, the first time it will be staged in Africa.

The FIFA delegation assessing the African countries bidding to host the 2010 World Cup will travel to Libya later this week before concluding its travels with a trip to Egypt.

FIFA team inspect Tunis - 11 Dec 2003

The five-man delegation, led by Jan Peeters, president of the Belgian Football Association, will inspect the stadia and infrastructure of capital Tunis during the week-long trip.

A FIFA inspection team has started its tour of Tunisia as part of the bidding process to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

FIFA team in SA - 30 Oct 2003

The five-strong FIFA team – headed by the president of Belgium’s Football Association, Jan Peeters - will visit the eight venue sites for the bid over the coming days.

A team of inspectors from soccer’s world governing body FIFA is visiting South Africa today as part of a tour of countries bidding to host the 2010 World Cup.

CAF stays neutral for 2010 - 10 Oct 2003

According to reports, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it will not endorse any one of the five bids currently being considered by FIFA for the first ever World Cup on African soil.

Africa soccer chiefs say they will not back any one bid in the running for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Blatter 'no' to joint 2010 bids - 30 Sep 2003

As FIFA received the official documentation from nations hoping to host the first World Cup in Africa, president Sepp Blatter said one solo bids would be considered.

FIFA has ruled out any joint bids for the 2010 World Cup in Africa – crushing hopes of a united Tunisia and Libya proposal.

Nigeria out of 2010 WC race - 29 Sep 2003

Nigeria has removed itself from the race just 24 hours before the candidature countries had been due to make their initial bid presentations to soccer governing body FIFA.

Nigeria has pulled out of the race to host the 2010 World Cup and announced its support of the South African bid.

FIFA set for 2010 bids - 22 Sep 2003

Officials from South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Libya and Nigeria will descend upon FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Tuesday, September 30.

The African nations bidding to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup will present their bid dossiers to soccer's governing body next week.

Intertops bets on hosts - 11 Jun 2003

Intertops.com has put South Africa at 1/10 to win the race to host the first World Cup in Africa.

A leading bookmaker has installed South Africa as overwhelming favourites to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup - and Salzburg top to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Six African countries in 2010 race - 04 Jun 2003

All six national associations that had expressed their preliminary interest in hosting the 2010 World Cup - Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria,

Six African nations have officially confirmed their intentions to bid to host the soccer World Cup in 2010.

FIFA's 2010 requirements - 02 Mar 2003

This document, which details the essential elements that must be covered in the official bid documents, will be used as the base upon which the six candidates – Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, South

The bidding process for the 2010 FIFA World Cup has taken its latest procedural step forward after soccer’s governing body sent the ‘list of requirements’ to the six African candidates.

FIFA's week of meetings - 28 Feb 2003

A week of FIFA committee meetings in Zurich will be rounded off by the Executive Committee on 6-7 March.

Headed up by the soccer governing body's president Sepp Blatter, a series of FIFA committee meetings kicks off next week with a status report on preparations for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the potential for a FIFA Club World Championship in 2005 among the issues on the agenda.

Six set for World Cup race - 06 Jan 2003

Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia are the six national associations to have formally declared an interest in hosting the event, the first time it will be held in Africa.

FIFA has confirmed it has received six official bids from African nations for the 2010 World Cup.

Morocco joins 2010 race - 21 Nov 2002

It has notified FIFA of its intention to bid for the event which is hotly tipped to be awarded to South Africa.

Morocco has become the latest African nation to bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

ITF warns of economic risk - 13 Jun 2002

Meeting in Marrakech, more than 80 member nations and over 200 delegates heard ITF president Ricci Bitti warn no-one should be complacent.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has warned delegates at its AGM in Morocco to prepare for a tough fight to secure commercial deals in the current global economic slump.

ITF serves up commercial game - 11 Jun 2002

In a number of issue sessions staged yesterday and today in the run-up to the AGM in Marrakech, Morocco, issues to be discussed include finance, the marketing of the game and a look at merchandising.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) holds its AGM tomorrow - with a host of key commercial topics scheduled for discussion.

Australia to host Pakistan series? - 11 Jun 2002

The reversing of the fixture is the first option available should Australia refuse to travel to the Asian nation amid security fears, stated the International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Mal

Australia could host the three-Test cricket series between itself and Pakistan if the games were to be switched from the latter country in light of its recent troubles.

Blatter to stand for FIFA re-election - 10 Jan 2002

(Reuters) Although the 65-year-old Swiss said he was not "officially" launching his campaign for a second four-year term and would not do so until two months before the next FIFA Congress in May, he t

Sepp Blatter launched his campaign to be re-elected as FIFA president with a promise to Africa that the continent would definitely stage the World Cup finals in 2010.

South Africa in bid for soccer finals - 04 Oct 2001

(Reuters) They are the third country to put their name forward to host the 16-nation tournament which could also serve as qualifiers for the World Cup finals the same year.

South Africa are to bid to stage soccer’s 2006 African Nations Cup finals.

2006 BIDS UNAFFECTED BY HOOLIGANS SAYS BLATTER - 28 Sep 2001

"The incidents with the hooligans on one side, and these practically terrorist acts on the other side, shall not have any influence on the teams, or any influence on the bid activities of the English

Outbreaks of hooliganism by English and German fans in France should not affect those nations' bids to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.

NIGERIA WITHDRAW FROM WORLD CUP RACE - 28 Sep 2001

"Part of the military government's directive is that we should support South Africa which is also bidding for the tournament," he said.

Nigeria withdrew their bid to host the World Cup Finals in 2006 to help South Africa win the right to stage the tournament, Nigerian sports minister Emeka Omeruah.

SA EXPLAIN BID CREDENTIALS - 28 Sep 2001

They see England and Germany, not necessarily in that order, as their main rivals and are aware they must overcome a possible stumbling block in a rival African bid from Morocco.

South African soccer officials, confident of the quality of their bid, have revealed why they think they should host the 2006 World Cup.

JFA INVITE BLATTER FOR TALKS - 28 Sep 2001

JFA president Shun-ichiro Okano said there was still a possibility Japan might co-host the event with South Korea next summer as a trial run for the 2002 World Cup, which would be in line with FIFA's

The Japanese Football Association (JFA) has invited FIFA president Sepp Blatter to Tokyo to discuss next year's Confederations Cup following an apology from world soccer's governing body over its proposal for the tournament.

GERMANY, SOUTH AFRICA FAVOURED FOR 2006 WORLD CUP BID. - 28 Sep 2001

Leaders of the rival England campaign, who said they had details of the report from FIFA sources, reacted furiously to the document which they said rated England's bid as technically inferior to those

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.

COSAFA ENDORSES SOUTH AFRICAN BID - 28 Sep 2001

?This will give me a mandate to campaign more actively for South Africa's bid", said Mr Ismail Bhamjee, President of COSAFA and member of the 24 person FIFA Executive Committee.

South Africa's quest to host the World Cup 2006 has been endorsed by the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Executive, adding an important component to the South Africa 2006 bid.

MOROCCO: WC BID AS STRONG AS EVER - 28 Sep 2001

"Morocco will pursue its campaign to host the World Cup finals in 2006 with self-confidence and calmly," said the statement by the soccer body Association Maroc Mondial 2006.

Morocco, in a move to reaffirm its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, says it has no plans to withdraw from the competition to host the finals, an official statement said.

NIGERIA SOCCER TEAM GETS GOVERNMENT SUPPORT - 28 Sep 2001

"Ex-footballers, soccer journalists and soccer lovers make up the nine-man committee which has begun work," sports ministry official Amos Adamu said.

Nigeria's sports ministry has set up a committee to mobilise "financial and moral support" for its national soccer team in a bid to win the 2000 African Cup of Nations.

BLATTER EXPECTING STRONG ENGLISH WORLD CUP 2006 BID - 28 Sep 2001

However, Blatter emphasised that any successful nation would have to meet all the conditions laid down by FIFA for hosting the tournament - listing stadium facilities, transportation, telecommunicatio

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that he expected England to present a strong, professional bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals - although Africa was still the logical choice to stage the tournament.

SA CELEBRATE NIGERIA BOOST - 28 Sep 2001

South Africa 2006 World Cup bid chairman Irvin said the Nigerian decision had come as a massive vote of confidence for the South African candidature.

South African soccer officials have reacted with delight to Nigeria's decision to withdraw their bid to host the World Cup finals in 2006 and instead support the South African bid.

HOOLIGAN TRIAL WILL NOT UPSET 2006 BID SAYS DFB CHIEF - 28 Sep 2001

"I don't see the slightest connection," Braun said after attending a hearing at the trial which opened last April in the German city of Essen.

The trial of four Germans accused of beating a French policeman almost to death at last year's World Cup finals will not affect Germany's bid to host the tournament in 2006, German Football Federation (DFB) President Egidius Braun has said.

2006 DECISION: MOROCCO SPEAK OF `BETRAYAL? - 28 Sep 2001

"Some of the voters who were supporting Morocco went to South Africa and we don't know why," said Driss Benhima, president of the Moroccan bid.

Moroccan officials said they felt betrayed on Thursday after falling out in the first round of voting to stage the 2006 World Cup ? and then faced further humiliation when their support for South Africa failed to bring the tournament to the continent.

UEFA ACCUSED OF UNDERMINING ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP BID - 28 Sep 2001

Writing in The Times newspaper, McGivan said the scenes of violence that marred the build-up to the match against Germany in Charleroi may have torpedoed England's bid to stage football's premier even

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.

OAU PLEA FOR AFRICA WORLD CUP HOST - 28 Sep 2001

"The case for Africa is overwhelming," Salim Ahmed Salim, secretary general of the OAU told a meeting of African ambassadors in the Ethiopian capital.

The head of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) has appealed to world football's governing body to let Africa host the 2006 World Cup.

JORDAAN CONFIDENT OF S.AFRICA WORLD CUP BID SUCCESS - 28 Sep 2001

While the president of CAF, the African soccer federation, has been arguing for a single bid from the continent to increase the chance of success, Danny Jordaan said South Africa is better prepared t

The chief executive officer of South Africa's bid committee for the 2006 Soccer World Cup has told the South African Cabinet that he is extremly confident the country will be awarded the event, the Pan African News Agency reports.

VOELLER NEW GERMAN 2006 AMBASSADOR - 28 Sep 2001

Voeller, who appeared 90 times for Germany, became the fourth former German international chosen by the German Football Federation to assist in the job after Jurgen Klinsmann, Guenter Netzer and Karl-

Former Germany striker Rudi Voeller has been appointed ambassador of the German bid to host soccer's 2006 World Cup.

SCHROEDER PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR GERMAN WORLD CUP BID - 28 Sep 2001

Schroeder, who took office last month, also said his government stood by a pledge from the previous administration to provide funds to modernise stadiums in Berlin and Leipzig.

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has promised his government would do all it could to support Germany's bid for the 2006 World Cup.

KING NAMES WORLD CUP COMMITTEE HEAD - 28 Sep 2001

"His Majesty King Hassan Driss Benhima as president of the National Committee for the World Cup...If Morocco's bid was successful, Benhima will continue to hold this high distinguished responsibility

Morocco's King Hassan has named former minister Driss Benhima as head of the National World Cup Committee (NWCC) to lobby for hosting the world soccer finals in Morocco in 2006.

MOROCCO MAKES ITS 2006 CASE - 28 Sep 2001

Said Driss Benhima, head of Morocco's 2006 bid Committee, following the presentation of the Moroccan bid document to FIFA: "Morocco is the African country with the best soccer record.

Morocco have staked their claim to be Africa's first choice for the 2006 World Cup.

2006 DECISION: ENGLAND `HUGELY DISAPPOINTED? AT EARLY EXIT - 28 Sep 2001

England followed on the heels of Morocco, which was eliminated in the first round. Germany beat South Africa in the third and decisive round of voting.

England World Cup 2006 bid officials have spoken of their extreme disappointment at their second round exit during today?s FIFA executive committee vote.

SOUTH AFRICA EXPRESS PITY OVER ENGLAND 2006 WORLD CUP PLIGHT - 28 Sep 2001

Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of the South Africa 2006 World Cup Bid Committee, said the expulsion threat and the hooliganism of English fans in Belgian cities over the weekend should not be

South African World Cup 2006 bid officials have said it would be a pity if the chances of rivals England were scuttled by UEFA'S threat to expel the English team from the European championship finals.

UK GOVERNMENT DENY JOINT WORLD CUP BID REPORT - 28 Sep 2001

The Independent newspaper reported that the plan for England to join one of its oldest and fiercest sporting opponents was essential to head off a strong challenge by South Africa to stage the tournam

The British government has dismissed a report that England might team up with Germany in a bid to host soccer's 2006 World Cup rather than press its own case.

SA PUT PRESSURE ON MOROCCO TO QUIT WC RACE - 28 Sep 2001

Danny Jordaan, the chief executive officer of the South African bid, said that his government would be approaching the Moroccan government with the suggestion.

South Africa says it is trying to persuade Morocco to quit the race to host the 2006 World Cup finals and allow it to be Africa's sole candidate.

GERMANY FORMALLY DECLARES BID FOR 2006 WORLD CUP - 28 Sep 2001

Franz Beckenbauer, captain when West Germany won the World Cup at home in 1974 and coach when they won it in 1990, handed in the document in his current position as the vice-president of the German Fo

Germany has entered the race to stage the 2006 World Cup finals after they officially handed in their initial bid document to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

SA TO PUT WC BID BEFORE CAF - 28 Sep 2001

He said FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who has repeatedly urged that the event go to an African country if it was able to meet all of FIFA's strict criteria regarding telecommunications, security and in

South Africa will present its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup to the African Soccer Confederation (CAF) executive in Cairo on Sunday, a South African diplomat said.

MOROCCO TO BID FOR 2010 WORLD CUP - 28 Sep 2001

The decision was taken by King Mohammed at a meeting on Monday attended by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmed Moussaoui and top sports officials.

Morocco will bid to host the 2010 World Cup soccer finals to be held for the first time in Africa, a Royal Palace spokesman has confirmed.

BREAKING NEWS?SA & GERMANY ENTER FINAL ROUND - 28 Sep 2001

Morocco were eliminated in the first round, England the second. The first round of results were: South Africa 6, Germany 10, England 5, Morocco 3. (Morocco eliminated)

South Africa and Germany are neck-a-neck as the vital FIFA poll enters the third round of voting.

ENGLAND 2006 BID DEALT FATAL BLOW - 28 Sep 2001

Key FIFA executive members, speaking on condition they would not be identified, said the sport's world governing body could not be seen to be rewarding England with the World Cup so soon after the vio

England's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals appears to have been dealt a fatal blow by the violent behaviour of the hooligans who caused mayhem over the weekend in Belgium, according to senior FIFA figures.

WORLD CUP 2006 DECISION ? 100 DAY COUNTDOWN - 28 Sep 2001

The favourites to win the right to host FIFA?s showpiece event include South Africa, England and Germany, with Morocco and Brazil also in the running.

Countries bidding for the 2006 soccer World Cup are beginning the countdown to decision day ? exactly 100 days away.

TICKET PRICES ROCKET AFTER CROWD CHAOS - 28 Sep 2001

A statement from the Nigerian organisers said the cheapest seats would now cost 200 naira ($2), while the most expensive would cost 2,000 naira ($20).

Co-hosts Nigeria have doubled the prices of tickets for the remanining matches of their national team in the African Nations Cup.

CUP FINAL STADIUM COULD BE BANNED FROM STAGING MATCHES - 28 Sep 2001

The 50 000-capacity Felix Houphoeut-Boigny stadium in Abidjan will be the venue for the second leg of the Champions' League final between Ivorian club ASEC Abdijan and Dynamos of Zimbabwe on Sunday.

The stadium where Sunday's African Champions' League will be decided could be banned from staging matches next year after crowd violence there in October, officials said.

CAF WILL NOT SELECT AFRICAN WORLD CUP 2006 CANDIDATE - 28 Sep 2001

Both Morocco and South Africa are sending delegations to the confederation's headquarters in search of an endorsement to strengthen their bid against rivals Brazil, England and Germany.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said it will not make a choice this weekend between the two African countries bidding to host the 2006 World Cup.

TWELVE COUNTRIES TO BID FOR 2003 WCC - 28 Sep 2001

Several national associations have posted an interest in both the 2003 and 2005 editions - the second in case they fail to get the first.

More than a dozen countries have declared an interest in hosting either of the next two editions of the World Club Championship, FIFA said on Thursday.

BREAKING NEWS?GERMANY WIN STUNNING 2006 VICTORY - 28 Sep 2001

South Africa, hot favourites to scoop the ultimate accolade, stumbled in the last round of bidding. England and Morocco were eliminated in the first two rounds. The full results were:

Germany has sensationally won the right to stage the FIFA 2006 World Cup ? bringing soccer?s most valuable property back to European shores.

ENGLAND SET FOR URGENT MEETING OVER HOOLIGANS - 28 Sep 2001

After watching hundreds of English fans run riot through the streets of Belgium for two days, UEFA threatened on Sunday to throw the England team out of Euro 2000 if there was a repeat of the trouble.

English soccer chiefs were planning to hold an urgent meeting with European governing body UEFA today in a bid to stop a new generation of hooligans from destroying their Euro 2000 campaign and seriously undermining their 2006 World Cup bid.

BLATTER VISITS MOROCCO - 28 Sep 2001

Blatter, accompanied by African Soccer Union (CAF) head Issa Hayatou, visited sports facilities in the capital Rabat and the business centre of Casablanca. Reuters

FIFA president Sepp Blatter spent the weekend in Morocco for a visit to discuss the country's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.

BLATTER BACKS AFRICA AGAIN FOR 2006 WORLD CUP - 28 Sep 2001

Blatter told the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Congress that he believed it would only be fair if Africa in 2006 followed Asia as the host of the World Cup finals.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has repeated that he felt the the World Cup finals in 2006 should go to Africa.

BECKENBAUER TO HEAD GERMAN WORLD CUP BID - 28 Sep 2001

Beckenbauer, World Cup-winning captain in 1974 and triumphant coach in 1990, took over from German Football Association (DFB) president Egidius Braun.

Germany has added weight to its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup finals by naming Franz Beckenbauer as head of their application.

AFRICA FINALISES WORLD CUP BIDS - 28 Sep 2001

"I received the nomination bids from South Africa and Morocco in an executive session of the CAF and I can say we have realistic ambitions of holding the World Cup in 2006 in Africa," Issa Hayatou sai

South Africa and Morocco submitted bids to the African Soccer Confederation (CAF) over the weekend to stage the 2006 World Cup, the confederation's chief executive said.

AFRICA?S POOR SAFETY RECORD COULD RUIN WORLD CUP PLANS - 28 Sep 2001

At least seven people were crushed to death and 50 injured in Lubumbashi, southern Congo Democratic Republic, at the weekend.

Africa?s poor safety record which has seen 50 soccer spectators killed in separate incidents in less than a month could undermine plans to stage the World Cup in the continent for the first time in 2010.

SOUTH AFRICA SET TO WIN ON VOTE DAY - 28 Sep 2001

South Africa's battle with rival bidders Germany has been extremely tight and intense lobbying continued into the early hours.

South Africa looked poised to win Africa the most prestigious sporting event in the continent's history on Thursday - the 2006 World Cup finals?and Sportbusiness.com will bring you the news first.

S.AFRICA TO DISCUSS 2006 CUP DEAL WITH BRAZIL - 28 Sep 2001

"We will be talking about the future of the World Cup and about Brazil withdrawing their bid for 2006 in favour of us," Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of South Africa's Bid Committee, said on

South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid committee officials will meet their Brazil counterparts next week to discuss a possible deal over Brazilian backing for South Africa's bid.

GERMANY SPRINT TO THE FINISH IN BID RACE - 28 Sep 2001

"Now we need a strong final sprint," Beckenbauer said at the headquarters of the German Football Federation (DFB) in Frankfurt.

Germany need to give their all in the closing stages of the race to hold the 2006 soccer World Cup finals, German bid chief Franz Beckenbauer said.

ENGLAND 2006 BID TURNS TO AFRICA FOR SUPPORT - 28 Sep 2001

"We appreciate that Morocco and South Africa also have bids but the voting system means that, if one drops out of the race, in the next round they might have to choose between, say, Brazil or England

Former World Cup hero, Sir Bobby Charlton, championing England's campaign to host the 2006 World Cup, has appealed to Africans to support England if two bids from their own continent are unsuccessful.

KELLY CHAOS WILL NOT HURT 2006 BID SAY OFFICIALS - 28 Sep 2001

Prime Minister Tony Blair, Sports Minister Tony Banks, 1966 World Cup knights Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton, F.A. officials and Kelly himself all spoke in favour of the bid.

A formidable army of supporters lined up to back England's World Cup 2006 bid, are claiming that the resignation of F.A. chief executive Graham Kelly would not hurt the nation's chances.

'PICK ONE' BLATTER TELLS AFRICA - 28 Sep 2001

"If one candidate applies, the chances will be better than two, even if there is strong competition from Germany, England and Brazil," he said.

FIFA head Sepp Blatter has advised Africa to endorse a single bidder to stage the 2006 World Cup finals on the continent for the first time.

AFRICA?S SECOND STADIUM TRAGEDY IN LESS THAN A MONTH - 28 Sep 2001

Seven people were crushed to death and 50 were seriously injured in Lubumbashi, in the Congo Democratic Republic, this weekend after rival soccer fans fled from the Kenya Football Stadium after police

Africa?s hopes of hosting the World Cup in 2010 were put on hold after the continent became the victim of a second soccer stadium tragedy in less than a month.

FIFA VOTE ? HOW THE PROCESS WILL WORK - 28 Sep 2001

Bids: England, Germany, Morocco, South Africa Voters: The 24 members of the executive committee of FIFA.

Facts about the FIFA vote to decide who stages the 2006 World Cup finals, which will take place on Thursday in Zurich.

SOUTH AFRICA TO SEEK MOROCCO WORLD CUP BID WITHDRAWAL - 28 Sep 2001

South Africa World Cup 2006 Bid Committee officials said Balfour had been invited by the Moroccans, although no agenda had been set for the meeting.

South Africa's Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour will meet Moroccan World Cup bid officials in Rabat to discuss the possibility of Morocco withdrawing from the 2006 race.

BID INVITES SOCCER GREATS FOR FINAL PUSH - 28 Sep 2001

The two players will be part of delegations visiting FIFA executive committee members and the congresses of various soccer confederations, said Danny Jordaan, chief executive officer of the South Afri

South Africa has invited African soccer greats Abedi Pele of Ghana and Cameroon's Roger Milla to be ambassadors for their 2006 World Cup bid.

GERMANY WC BID HEADS FOR AFRICAN SUPPORT - 28 Sep 2001

"I can tell you that by summer 2005 everything will be ready for us to organise an attractive pre-World Cup tournament," Beckenbauer, chairman of Germany's bid committee and vice-president of the Germ

Germany's campaign to host the 2006 Soccer World Cup moved to Central Africa this week when German soccer legend and bid leader Franz Beckenbauer arrived in Cameroon to drum up support.

AFRICAN CHIEF CALLS FOR UNITY ON CUP BID - 28 Sep 2001

CAF president Issa Hayatou said he would be convening a meeting of all five African nations who have applied to host the tournament to try and persuade four of them to withdraw and unite behind South

The African Football Confederation (CAF) acknowledged for the first time that South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid could be damaged without the support of the entire continent.

PELE BACKS SA WORLD CUP BID - 28 Sep 2001

Pele, who played and scored for Brazil at four successive World Cup finals, said he had never been against Brazil hosting the World Cup, but he was against the committee behind the current Brazilian b

Soccer legend Pele has confirmed his support for South Africa's bid to stage the 2006 World Cup, saying he thought Brazil could be ready to stage the finals four years later.

BLATTER CONFIRMS AFRICA TO HOST 2010 WORLD CUP - 28 Sep 2001

FIFA's official website quoted Blatter, on a trip to Ethiopia, as saying: "Africa will definitely host the 2010 World Cup."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has declared the 2010 World Cup finals will be staged in Africa, ending any lingering doubts about the location of the tournament.

SOUTH AFRICA `CAN TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED? IN WORLD CUP RACE - 28 Sep 2001

One highly placed FIFA source said on the eve of Thursday's vote by the 24-man FIFA executive committee: "South Africa can take nothing for granted.

As the race for the right to stage the 2006 World Cup finals entered its final hours on Wednesday, South Africa were still regarded as favourites with Germany a potent threat to their chances.

SOUTH AFRICA TO DISCUSS CUP BID DEAL NEXT WEEK - 28 Sep 2001

South Africa Bid Committee chief executive officer Danny Jordaan told Reuters he would meet Brazilian Football Confederation president Ricardo Teixeira and Brazil's 2006 bid committee chairman Zico in

South Africa's World Cup bid chief said he was prepared to do a deal with rivals Brazil in order to secure South American backing in the vote to decide who hosts the 2006 tournament.

FIFA `FAVOURABLY IMPRESSED? WITH SA BID - 28 Sep 2001

"We have been very favourably impressed with the written proposals and with this site inspection," Alan Rothenberg, leader of the six-man FIFA delegation, said.

FIFA's technical inspection team has given South Africa's bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals an unequivocal thumbs-up on Tuesday after a five-day tour to check the country's readiness.

LIBYA BACKS MOROCCO WC BID - 28 Sep 2001

The agency, quoted the Libyan Olympic Committee as saying that the North African country was ready to help Morocco bid for and organise the event.

Libya is supporting Morocco in its efforts to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, according to reports from a local news agency.

FIFA BIDS TO AVOID OLYMPICS BRIBE SCANDAL - 28 Sep 2001

Blatter said he was unware of any previous or current problems facing soccer's world governing body and noted that the smaller number of officials able to vote on deciding the World Cup venue, compare

FIFA will lay down strict rules to countries bidding to host the 2006 World Cup finals to avoid the sort of scandal over bribery that has rocked the Olympic movement, FIFA President Sepp Blatter has announced.

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