Basic HTML Version
touchline
2
World Sports News Roundup
Qatar
BIN HAMMAM SUBJECT TO FRESH
ALLEGATIONS
Fresh allegations of financial wrongdoing have been made
against Mohamed bin Hammam after the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) suspended its former president earlier
this month.
Bin Hammam is currently fighting against his life ban from
world football issued by FIFA last year, but the AFC announced
a new 30-day suspension. Asian football’s governing body
said the Qatari has been suspended for “events surrounding
the negotiation and execution of certain contracts and with
the financial transactions made in and out of AFC bank
accounts and his personal account during the tenure of Mr.
Bin Hammam’s presidency.” The AFC added it will make no
additional comment on the matter until further notice.
Bin Hammam is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
(CAS) against his life ban from world football for his alleged
involvement in last year’s FIFA presidential election scandal,
with a verdict due in the coming weeks. Bin Hammam was
handed his FIFA ban in July 2011 for allegedly paying bribes
totalling approximately US$1 million to Caribbean Football
Union officials at a meeting in Trinidad. Witnesses testified
to FIFA that cash gifts of $40,000 were handed over after a
presentation by Bin Hammam, who was running against Sepp
Blatter for the FIFA presidency. He has consistently denied any
wrongdoing.
Chile
CHILE TO HOST JUNIOR WORLD RUGBY
TROPHY
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has furthered its
quest to develop the sport in Asia and South America by
announcing that Chile and Hong Kong will host the Junior
World Rugby Trophy in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
The IRB has claimed unprecedented interest in hosting the
two editions of its second tier age grade tournament. Chile
staged the inaugural edition of the Junior World Trophy
in 2008, with the event set to return to the country after a
record-breaking 2012 tournament hosted by USA Rugby
in Salt Lake City in June.
South America is one of rugby’s fastest-growing regions,
with a 25% increase in the playing population since the
inaugural JuniorWorld Trophy. HongKong has successfully
hosted the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as
part of the HSBC Sevens World Series for over a decade
as well as HSBC Asian 5 Nations Top 5 matches.
Scotland
RANGERS START IN DIVISION 3
Rangers Football Club will begin its new life in the Scottish
Third Division after the Scottish Football League’s (SFL)
member clubs voted against allowing it to enter the First
Division.
The Glasgow giant had to apply for membership of the SFL
after its application to re-enter the Scottish Premier League
(SPL) was rejected earlier this month. SPL chief executive
Neil Doncaster and his Scottish Football Association
(SFA) counterpart, Stewart Regan, had both warned of
the serious financial consequences for the Scottish game
if Rangers were not permitted to enter the First Division -
the second tier of Scottish football. However, 25 of the 30
clubs ultimately voted in favour of Rangers instead being
admitted to the Third Division.
Rangers entered administration in February following legal
action by the UK Revenue and Customs (HMRC) over
alleged non-payment of around £9 million in PAYE and
VAT tax. The club owed up to £134 million to unsecured
creditors and English businessman Charles Green last
month completed his takeover in a £5.5 million newco
acquisition that will see the liquidation of Rangers in its
original guise.
Green stated Rangers would not challenge the decision
and is focused on playing a “constructive part” in the Third
Division.
England
2017 LACROSSE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TO BE
HELD IN ENGLAND
The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) has announced
that England will host the 2017 Women’s World Cup.
The quadrennial tournament takes place for the 10th time in
2017 and will return to England, which hosted the inaugural
event in 1982. The University of Surrey, Guildford, will house all
tournament participants while Surrey Sports Park will provide
the competition pitches and other facilities.
Shelley Maher, women’s director of the FIL, said: “We are
extremely pleased to accept England’s bid to host the 2017
Women’s World Cup. What a fantastic opportunity to stage the
10th World Cup in the country that hosted the inaugural event.
The ELA (English Lacrosse Association) has put together an
excellent plan to host this milestone tournament.”
The Czech Lacrosse Union hosted the 2009 World Cup in
Prague, while the next edition of the competition will travel to
the Canadian city of Oshawa in 2013.