MENA

Sepp Blatter, president of football’s world governing body FIFA, said countries near Qatar could host some 2022 World Cup games according to French sports daily L’Equipe.

Some of the Middle East’s leading brands were recognised at the 2010 Arabian Sponsorship Awards, held yesterday at the second Arabian Sponsorship Forum at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Kevin Roberts discusses England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has welcomed the decision of the governing body’s executive committee to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

FIFA has just announced that Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Qatar will stage the 2022 edition.

A study by global advisors Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, has revealed that football in Middle East would grow by $24 billion if the tournament is held in the country.

A note by the head of the Spain/Portugal joint bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup suggests there will be no punishment to his, and Qatar’s 2022 World Cup candidacy for alleged collusion.

Professional Sports Group has confirmed 2010 FIFA World Cup Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan, and adidas' SVP of Global Sports Marketing, Jocelyn Robiot, as keynote speakers for the 2010 Arabian Sponsorship Forum.

The director of sport for the British Olympic Association (BOA), Sir Clive Woodward, has signed up as a speaker to the Aspire4Sport Conference and Expo in Doha, Qatar next month.

The leaders of the Iberian and Qatar bids to host the World Cup will be investigated by FIFA's ethics committee over allegations of vote trading.

The second Arabian Sponsorship Forum will take place at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi on December 8 and 9, the Professional Sports Group has confirmed.

The inaugural Aspire4Sport Conference and Expo has received confirmation that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will join the line-up of major sports personalities at the event in Doha, Qatar, from November 15-18.

Legendary stars Carlos Alberto, Mario Kempes and Ossie Ardiles have all been confirmed for the Aspire4Sport-organised World Cup Icons presentation before the Argentina-Brazil friendly on November 17 at the Khalifa International Stadium, in Doha, Qatar.

World football’s governing body FIFA is investigating allegations against the Togo team that played an exhibition match against Bahrain on September 7. The team, which lost 3-0, was "completely fake" according to Seiyi Memene, chairman of Togo's interim football federation.

Dubai-based football club Al Ahli has signed a $3 million shirt and stadium sponsorship deal with Japanese electronics giant Toshiba, it was announced yesterday.

The Aspire4Sport Congress and Exhibition has announced a media partnership with the SportBusiness Group, the world’s leading supplier of information, media and B2B marketing services to the sports industry.

Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, president of Qatar’s Motor and Motorcycling Federation (QMMF), yesterday said the country’s Losail International Circuit is being upgraded in a move to become the third Persian Gulf country to host a Formula One race.

Slowly but surely, US nutritional company Herbalife has emerged as a major sponsor on the global sports scene. Best known for partnering Barcelona FC and LA Galaxy, this week it added three new partners to its stable.