Italy

European Union sports commissioner Viviane Reding insists steps will have to be taken to protect young players from the "modern slavery" being practised by some clubs.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has announced the agreement of a $400 million 10-year TV and sponsorship deal..

Italy's Foreign Ministry summoned the Dutch ambassador to Italy on Monday to deplore the treatment of Italian journalists detained by police at Sunday's Euro 2000 soccer championships final in Rotterdam.

French clubs looking for greater control over their television rights have stated their case at a general assembly of the national league (LNF).

Rome's Olympic stadium, home of the soccer league matches of Roma and Lazio, is to be sold within the year together with the swimming pool and tennis fields of the Italian capital's "Foro Italico" sport complex.

A regional court has overturned a 1998 ruling by Italy's Antitrust watchdog that a sports rights accord

Award-winning US advertising agency, Leo Burnett, has resigned the Fila USA account, citing "philosophical differences," an agency representative said.

Brazil's soccer tour of Australia has became a financial disaster as superstar Ronaldo withdrew and the promoter took the extraordinary step of declaring free admission.

The shareholders of AS Roma have approved the club seeking an IPO, according to the soccer industry newsletter, The Soccer Investor Weekly Bulletin.

ENIC Plc, which controls three European soccer clubs, has said that European soccer authority UEFA's decision to block clubs with common ownership from playing each other in European competition is in breach of European Union law.

Everyone is caught up in the World Cup and the spirit of soccer.

Italian Communications Ministry Undersecretary Michele Lauria has said no formal accord had been signed between Rupert Murdoch and Telecom Italia to sell a stake in the Italian phone company's broadcasting unit Stream.

UEFA have thrown down the gauntlet to their own clubs, the European Commission and upstart rivals Media Partners and have announced far-reaching plans for the reorganisation of European club soccer.

The spirit of co-operation between Europe's leading soccer clubs and UEFA was tested on Tuesday when they began discussing the financial aspects of an expanded Champions' League.

Pay-TV broadcaster Telepiu says it is confident contracts it signed for the digital rights for seven top Italian soccer clubs are unbreakable even if Rupert Murdoch makes a rival offer.

Leading Italian Serie A club Lazio, which was quoted on the Milan bourse last year, is set to pay a divided, according to its owner.