South America

Argentine soccer players, who have been on strike for over a week in protest at unpaid wages and bonuses, want clubs to be relegated if they do not pay on time.

Soccer legend Diego Maradona was met on his arrival in Rome on Thursday by tax authorities and police who told him he owed about 50 billion lire ($24.6 million) to Italian tax authorities, police sources said.

ESPN is to broadcast live coverage of a major golf tournament in Argentina later this year.

Argentina's soccer players are to go on strike this weekend in protest at on-pitch violence after a third division player was beaten by fans of the opposing team.

FIFA are looking into the possibility of rescheduling the Confederations Cup from January to August 1999 after world champions France withdrew last month.

1.DIRTY TRICKS SURFACE IN IOC SCANDAL

2.KENYA'S MUKORA QUITS IOC

3.SAMARANCH DEFIANT, TOO

4.2006 WINTER OLYMPIC BIDDERS FACE CONFUSION, NEW RULES

5.2012 BIDS

6.HOT FILE

The disappointing ratings for Olympic coverage on NBC in the US have been offset by more encouraging figures around the world.

English Premier League champions Manchester United should not be allowed to compete in next season's English FA Cup, a spokesman for the tournament's sponsors, the AXA insurance group, was quoted as saying.

Criticisms levelled at South Africa's 2006 World Cup bid by Sir Bobby Charlton have been rebuffed by South African officials.

If the battle between the players is half as aggressive as the battle between the kit makers, then the World Cup should be an action-packed affair.

Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has turned out to be biggest U.S. beneficiary in this years World Cup.

World champions France will not take part in FIFA's controversial Confederations Cup in Mexico next year if the dates are unsuitable.

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.

The 2000 ATP World Championships will be staged in Lisbon, Portugal, with the following year?s event moving to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

South Africa will be the first of five countries to present their official bids to host the 2006 World Cup finals.

Brazil has withdrawn its threat to have Barcelona thrown out of the European Champions League if they do not release Rivaldo for international duty.