South America

Morocco's 2006 World Cup campaign boss said during a lobbying visit to Nigeria that Africa should make only a single bid to host the tournament.Morocco and South Africa are among five nations bidding to host the 2006 finals along with Brazil, England and Germany."FIFA may find it easier to reject Africa's bid if both Morocco and South Africa insist on presenting their bids, citing lack of unity," Driss Benhima, head of the Morocco 2006 bid committee, told reporters.Benhima said the Confederation of African Football had to evolve a fair method of choosing either Morocco or South Africa. CAF are due to discuss the issue at their next Congress in Accra, Ghana in February.

Colombian leftist guerrillas toasted Brazil's and Mexico's World Cup victories and vowed to fight for the right of every Colombian to enjoy "happiness, fiesta and football."

Switzerland's President Flavio Cotti has asked for the support of France and other French-speaking states for his country's bid to stage the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Plans to cut the number of African countries bidding for the 2006 World Cup from five to just one strong candidate have been delayed, officials said on Tuesday.

South Africa will present its bid to stage the 2006 World Cup to the African Soccer Confederation (CAF) executive in Cairo on Sunday, a South African diplomat said.

FIFA general secretary Michel zen Ruffinen has refuted criticism of the controversial new world club championship and said it was almost certainly here to stay.

Brazil's national soccer team, who have won the World Cup four times, appear set for an unprecedented win over one of their most difficult opponents: the eight o'clock soap opera. For the full story see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.

Coca-Cola is to sue the Brazilian football federation (CBF) for breaking its contract.

Carnegie Cooke & Company has won approval from the government of Brazil for a deal to be struck between it and the Brazilian Association of Jockey Clubs (BAJC).

Brazilian superstar Ronaldo has given evidence at the Brazilian parliamentary investigation into alleged corruption in football ? but refused to disclose details of his contract with Nike.

Former FIFA president Joao Havelange, 84, praised a controversial sponsorship deal between sportswear giants Nike and the Brazilian national team on Thursday as Congress continued its investigations into the country's crisis-hit national sport. For the full details see the FEATURES section of sportbusiness.com.

Spain is to host the second FIFA Club World Championship.

Speculation is mounting that Brazil is on the verge of pulling out of the race for the World Cup ? with an announcement on its bid due later today from the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

SportsYA!, the Spanish and Portuguese language internet sports portal, has announced a partnership with two of Brazil's most famous sports stars, Formula One World Champion Emerson Fittipaldi and soccer international Zico.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said it will continue to press the European Union for a special exemption to limit the affects of the Bosman ruling that opened up soccer to free agency.

The 2000 NBA All-Star Game, taking place in the San Francisco Bay Area, February 11- 13, will be shown in 205 countries, with a potential audience of 750million households.