Africa

Shamila Batohi, lead advocate for South Africa's King Commission probing allegations of corruption in cricket, has had what was described as a "fruitful" meeting with India's federal police agents.

FIFA has firmly rejected South Africa's request for arbitration over last month's vote to award the 2006 World Cup finals to Germany.

A proposal to abolish the FIFA executive committee vice-presidency traditionally held by Britain will be discussed at next month's Congress.

Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) president Charlie Dempsey has said he had permission to vary his vote at the FIFA meeting that decided Germany would host the 2006 World Cup, not South Africa.

Organisers lost over $2 million when benefit cricket matches involving Indian, South African and Sri Lankan players were called off following the recent match fixing controversy.

South African cricket chief Ali Bacher has said Hansie Cronje's involvement in the match-fixing controversy was part of a more serious global problem.

Last-minute negotiations are underway to ensure the introduction of video referees for the Super 12 rugby union competition, starting later this month.

The English Football Association (FA) said on Thursday it was urgently examining the court judgment which overturned a libel damages award to former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

Australian officials have vowed to polish the tarnished image of the Olympics, seeking to convince sponsors and potential spectators that Sydney's successful bid for the 2000 Games was clean.

Drivers have got lost and some buses have simply not turned up, but team officials have said the biggest teething problem of the 16th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur - transport - is getting better.

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.

Internetsoccer.com is rapidly expanding its content offering in the Pacific Rim, Central America and Africa.

Australian Olympic officials do not know how Kenya used a US$10,000 payment aimed at securing the 2002 Games for Sydney, the Sydney Morning Herald has said.

At least 11 foreign teams will take part in a soccer tournament beginning in Dhaka on August 27, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced.

Cameroon's Issa Hayatou is expected to remain president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Thursday's election at the congress in Accra.

Plans to cut the number of African countries bidding for the 2006 World Cup from five to just one strong candidate have been delayed, officials said on Tuesday.

Turkey wants to build a Formula One circuit in Istanbul within three years, the head of the Turkish Automobile Federation said on Thursday.

Beijing is eyeing the 2008 Olympics as a cure for problems ranging from choking smog to taxi-clogged streets, and as an image boost for the Communist capital.