Italy

Italian soccer club Lazio matched a cup winning performance on the pitch with a dazzling debut on the Milan bourse on 6 May as investors and fans scrambled for shares.

A Belgian court will rule on whether the system of transfer fees for soccer players violates European Union rules, in a case reminiscent of a dispute over Brazilian striker Ronaldo's move to Inter Milan in 1997.

The company hoping to set up a European soccer Super League is to hold talks with the European Commission, an EC has spokeswoman said.

Europe's leading national soccer coaches have said a Super League would act against the interests of international football.

Europe's leading soccer leagues have taken on world governing body FIFA about releasing players for the controversial Confederations' Cup in January.

Europe's leading 14 clubs have accepted UEFA's proposals for a 32-team European Champions' League.

The Italian government are to prepare new rules limiting a single digital television broadcaster from owning more than 60 percent of rights to the total amount of football games, an Italian newspaper has reported.

Italian Serie A soccer club Internazionale remain on course for a flotation despite the resignation earlier this month of their chairman Massimo Moratti whose departure was followed by several other board members.

Fiat Auto has signed a new deal to be the official sponsor of the Italaian national soccer team.

European internet sports network Sportal has finalised a new round of funding for its operations, which the company envisages will see it through to profitability in early 2002.

Leading IOC member Jacques Rogge is poised to take over the most powerful job in world sport as IOC president in July, according to the results of a new survey.

Italian pay-TV networks Stream and Telepui have agreed merger terms, reports the Guardian newspaper in London.

The toe-dipping around the Olympic pool is set to stop and the serious contenders are preparing to dive into the race for world sport's most powerful job - the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency.

AS Roma President Franco Sensi wants to turn the club into an Italian Manchester United by clinching a deal with a big U.S. sports team.

Swatch Group has signed a long-term partnership agreement with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in areas of timing, scoring and results-keeping.

AS Roma will bid for a stake in Rome's Olympic Stadium with Lazio, the club's general manager said in an interview.