Spain

SEAT are to pull out of next year's world rally championship after a disappointing performance this season.

Zinedine Zidane, European footballs brightest star, has labeled the transfer fees paid recently by big European clubs "ridiculous".

Portuguese international Luis Figo has become the world's most expensive soccer player after completing a $56.1 million defection from Barcelona to arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Lorenzo Sanz, Real Madrid president and head of the G-14 lobbying group of soccer clubs, will find out early on Monday if he still has a role in Spanish and European soccer when a bitter and at times bizarre presidential race at the club is finally decided. And you can find out the full details behind the scenes by checking out the FEATURES section of SportBusiness.com.

Germany's top television channel, RTL has bought the coveted free-to-air rights to Champions League soccer from September for the next three seasons.

UEFA inspectors have found the Stade de France in perfect condition to stage the European Cup final, a spokesman for the stadium's administrators said.

Jesus Gil will return to the president's box at Atletico Madrid after a judge gave him back control of the Spanish first division club under the supervision of two financial administrators.

Barcelona FC has chosen the ERDC Group, the synthetic sports surface supplier, to provide ?Fieldturf? for the clubs new training facility at Nou Camp. ERDC expect to finish the resurfacing programme by early March.

Dutch electronics firm Philips has signed a sponsorship deal with ocean racing's Pete Goss.

Sportal, the independent Internet-based sports media company has announced the completion of a $50 million equity financing valuing the company at over $170 million.

An IOC report says preliminary results indicate that the XVIII Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, were broadcast in more countries than ever before and that the global cumulative audience is likely to equal Lillehammer's record??.

Twenty-three-year NBC veteran Randy Falco is taking over as president of the NBC TV Network this fall, replacing Neil Braun, who announced his resignation and plans to join the bidding for Polygram Filmed Entertainment.

This season's European Cup Final - likely to be the last under the current format - will be played at the Nou Camp Stadium, home of Barcelona.

A joint four nation Nordic bid to host the European Championship finals of 2008 is to be considered, a spokesman for the Danish soccer federation has said.

The French daily Le Figaro has reported that Tour de France sponsors Coca-Cola and Festina would withdraw their backing if the event, sullied by doping scandals last year, failed to improve its image.

The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) - the world governing body of all air sports - has signed an exclusive contract with Trans World International to distribute the Federation's first-ever televised series of World Championships.