Sub-Saharan Africa

Moroccan officials said they felt betrayed on Thursday after falling out in the first round of voting to stage the 2006 World Cup ? and then faced further humiliation when their support for South Africa failed to bring the tournament to the continent.

German Football Federation (DFB) president Egidius Braun has been taken to hospital over the weekend, a DFB spokesman said.

Organisers lost over $2 million when benefit cricket matches involving Indian, South African and Sri Lankan players were called off following the recent match fixing controversy.

A South African soccer chairman was banned for life for attempted bribery and his first division club fined.

South Africa has again disputed the campaigning tactics of World Cup 2006 bidding rivals, England.

The results of a poll of leading sports editors making England favourites to host the 2006 World Cup finals confirmed support had turned their way, Alec McGivan, director of England's bid, has said.

The Davis Cup Centennial Celebration quarter-final tie between the United States and Australia at the Longwood Cricket Club this summer sold out in a lightning-quick 81 minutes, the USTA said.

England?s top 12 cricketers will decide today whether to accept the six-month contract terms they and the ECB have negotiated over the last month.

The IAAF has elected Lamine Diack as its chief for another two years ? the only candidate standing at the athletics governing body?s congress for president.

Cameroon's suspension from world soccer has been lifted by FIFA following the intervention of the country's prime minister.

Nigeria's organising committee for next year's world youth soccer tournament said on Sunday they were confident FIFA would be satisfied by the country's preparations after an inspection this week.

The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) and players have resolved a dispute over bonus payments after a tense standoff at the weekend.

The ICC has ordered all international cricket players, umpires and officials to declare their innocence of match-fixing by the end of November.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will sign a $50 million marketing and television rights agreement with French company Groupe Jean-Claude Darmon in February, say CAF officials.

South African World Cup 2006 bid officials are planning a charm offensive in Europe later this month, trying to convince European members of the FIFA executive committee of the merits of their candidacy.

Guinness announced a 15 per cent sales increase in the UK for the September/October period during which they sponsored the Rugby World Cup.