Business

The US Court of Appeals has affirmed the jury verdict and trial court decision in the Fraser versus Major League Soccer "free agency" case.

Virgin Mobile has renewed its sponsorship of Yamaha's British Superbikes team for the third successive year.

Ukbetting, the stock market-listed digital betting operator, which bought up the Sportal brand last year, has recorded a pre-tax loss of £2.6million ($3.7m/EUR4.2m) in its maiden results.

Sportingbet plc, the AIM-listed online sports company that recently bucked the dot com trend by reporting a pre-tax profit, has expanded its operation to Scandinavia.

The heads of UK media companies Granada and Carlton Communications, which own the majority of commercial broadcaster ITV, have held emergency talks with the English Nationwide Football League over a renegotiation of their TV rights deal.

Spending on sports sponsorship has proved more resilient to the advertising slump, according to research carried out by UK-based consultants Ipsos.

The English Hockey Association (EHA) meets today to discuss its beleaguered financial position, with a recommendation likely to be that the organisation is shut down.

Beleaguered German media firm the Kirch Group has reportedly come up with an assets swap plan which could see it retain its lucrative Formula One TV rights as it comes under increasing pressure from its array of creditors.

English Premiership club Newcastle United plc has reported a loss after tax of £1.38million ($1.96m/EUR2.23m) for the six months ended Janurary 31, 2002.

The UK is to host the Rugby League World Cup in 2005 - the third successive time it has staged the tournament.

New Zealand rugby officials are still holding out hope of co-hosting the 2003 World Cup with Australia but admit that obstacles to their role in the tournament remain.

A crucial council meeting today will force the Football Association (FA) to soon give its final decision on whether or not to go ahead with the £715million ($1bn/EUR1.2bn) rebuilding of Wembley Stadium.

The Sydney-to-Hobart yacht race will be sponsored by luxury watch maker Rolex for the next four years.

Sepp Blatter, who has come under fire in recent weeks over allegations of financial mismanagement and vote-rigging, says he expects to remain as president of world soccer's governing body FIFA.

Beer company Kronenbourg 1664 has confirmed it will sponsor a beach soccer event this summer after signing a six-figure deal with sports marketing firm Octagon UK.

Extended television technology to aid umpiring decisions will be tested during September's Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed today.

Debt-laden media group Kirch has denied a newspaper report that it plans to sell its 2006 World Cup rights to German state-owned television station ARD.

Minnesota said it would sell $330million (EUR375m) of taxable revenue bonds to finance a new ballpark for the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball team, under a plan unveiled on Friday by Governor Jesse Ventura.