South America
Business

Former Brazil coach Mario Zagallo will appear in court next month to explain why he played Ronaldo in the World Cup Final.

A senior Brazilian soccer official warned that the game in his country could be plunged into crisis over plans for a Bosman-style law giving players freedom of movement when their contracts end.

Organisers of soccer's Women's World Cup say they are on course to top 500,000 ticket sales before the event kicks-off in June.
Business

FIFA has said Manchester United's decision to take part in its World Team Championship will not make any difference to England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup.
Events

International television rights company CSI Ltd has recently acquired the exclusive television rights for home matches of the English football clubs in the UEFA Cup and the European Pro Beach Soccer League.

Canadian city Montreal has won the race to host the World Swimming Championships in 2005.
Business

Sport site network Rivals.net has teamed up with Entertainment Films to sponsor the movie Mike Bassett ? England Manager.
Business

News Corporation head Rupert Murdoch is looking to restrain the company?s spending and possibly sell off assets to concentrate on the mooted $40billion acquisition of DirecTV, the US satellite operator .

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has promised to send, literally, a lorry-load of documents to Brasilia to help a Congressional inquiry investigating the country's national sport.
Business

American Environmental Corporation (AEVC) has completed a contract with the Jockey Club de Pernambuco RS in Brazil for the exclusive operation of simulcast transmission of international sports/racing events.
Events

As widely anticipated, Brazil has withdrawn from the race to host soccer?s 2006 World Cup.
Business

The Brazilian Government has put forward legislation against tobacco advertising and sponsorship of sports and cultural events.
Events

The British government has dismissed a report that England might team up with Germany in a bid to host soccer's 2006 World Cup rather than press its own case.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has given Brazil a timely boost in the race to host the 2006 World Cup.
Events

The Copa America outstripped the Superbowl and World Series amongst American Hispanics according to research out on Sunday.
Business

EMC Corporation, a global provider of enterprise storage systems, software and services, has signed with the International Federation of PGA Tours to become the title sponsor of golf's World Cup and an umbrella sponsor of the World Golf Championships.
Business

Outbreaks of hooliganism by English and German fans in France should not affect those nations' bids to stage the 2006 World Cup finals, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said.

The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) today approved an application by Beijing to bid for the 2008 Olympic Games.