(SID) – Der Hockenheimring ist angesichts der wirtschaftlichen Krise des Nürburgrings für die dauerhafte Ausrichtung des deutschen Formel-1-Rennens bereit, cough hofft aber weiter auf den jährlichen Wechsel. “Wir stünden bereit, wenn alle Voraussetzungen passen”, sagte Georg Seiler, Geschäftsführer der Hockenheim-Ring GmbH, dem SID: “Aber ich glaube, dass sich die Dinge am Nürburgring noch glätten werden, dass dort weiter gefahren wird und wir das alternierende Modell fortsetzen können.” Dieses betrachtet Seiler ohnehin als das ideale.

Seit 2008 wechseln sich die beiden Traditionsstrecken als Ausrichter des Großen Preises von Deutschland ab, am Wochenende fährt die Königsklasse in Hockenheim. Der rheinland-pfälzische Ministerpräsident Kurt Beck hatte am Mittwoch jedoch erklärt, dass die Nürburgring GmbH in die “geordnete Insolvenz” gehen müsse. “Der Nürburgring ist mit uns zusammen die führende Rennstrecke in Deutschland. Deshalb bedaure ich sehr, was dort passiert – ohne die Dinge bewerten zu wollen”, sagte Seiler.

Das in der Eifel am Mittwoch vorgestellte Modell, nach dem Formel-1-Promoter Bernie Ecclestone als alleiniger Ausrichter des Nürburgring-Rennens auftreten könne, ist in Seilers Augen “sicherlich eine Lösung. Es würde dem Land Rheinland-Pfalz wahrscheinlich Defizite ersparen. Aber ich kenne keine Details.”

Der Vertrag des Hockenheimrings läuft noch bis 2018. “Wir haben vor zwei Jahren eine schwarze Null geschrieben, und wir werden sie auch dieses Jahr wieder schreiben”, sagte Seiler. Rund 56.000 Tickets waren am Donnerstagmittag verkauft, der Wert von 2010 (62.000) könnte damit durchaus wieder erreicht werden.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has cast a major doubt over the future of the Australian Grand Prix by suggesting he will axe the race from the calendar unless it becomes a night race.

Ecclestone is prepared to honour the current contract with the organisers at Melbourne’s Albert Park that runs through to 2015, but beyond that the stakes will likely be raised.

The 81-year-old claims the race is “probably the least viable of all the races we have” given the time difference to the European market, and with other venues waiting in the wings.

“We have a contract which we will respect, so up until 2015 we are in good shape,” Ecclestone said.

“After then, we really don’t know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia.

“Because I can’t see how Adelaide could make it (a night race) happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can’t.

“We have other races ready to take the place of Australia, which we don’t want to happen.

“But it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board, ‘Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia’.”

Ecclestone’s posturing could be the final straw for Melbourne in particular as city officials have long complained about the financial losses incurred in recent years.

Given the additional costs required to install lighting, such as that currently used in Singapore, it is likely that would be too much for taxpayers to absorb.

by Ismail Uddin

The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) has responded to the Westfield case by offering an amnesty to players to report match-fixing approaches.

Witholding evidence and not coming forward to report an approach is an offence according to ECB regulations but the “reporting window”, which will run until 30 April, will give players a second chance to come clean without the threat of censure.

The information manager to the ECB’s ACCESS (Anti-Corruption Commission for Education, Standards and Security) campaign Chris Watts explained, “Information is critical in addressing the threat posed by corruption in sport.

“The decision of the board to provide a window for retrospective reporting of alleged approaches will greatly assist the ACCESS unit in compiling a more complete picture of the source and focus of approaches which may have taken place in the past.

“Individuals may not have thought these approaches were worthy of reporting at the time and, prior to the decision of the board, may have been concerned that the fact that they did not report such activity may have put them at risk of disciplinary action”.

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Join the lively iSportConnect debate on the impact of the Westfield case on cricket right here

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and players’ association are scheduled to meet Wednesday, almost a week after three days of talks with a federal mediator couldn’t produce a deal to end the lockout.

Talks broke down last Thursday after players said owners insisted they agree to a 50-50 split of revenues before they would further discuss the salary cap system.

There was a far nastier tone than usual to the breakdown, with union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers accusing deputy commissioner Adam Silver and Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of the league’s labor relations committee, of lying during their press conference.

But just as they have multiple times this month when they walked away from the table without another meeting scheduled, the sides are getting back at it relatively quickly.

The meeting, first reported by the New York Daily News, will be small groups from each side, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details of the negotiations were to remain private. Commissioner David Stern will take part after he was forced to miss the session last Thursday because of an illness.

Stern said without a deal last week, he feared games could be lost right through Christmas. The sides tried, spending 30 hours together while meeting for three straight days for the first time since the lockout began July 1. They made some progress on minor issues, but continue to be stuck on the two main ones.

Players proposed lowering their guarantee of basketball-related income to 52.5 percent, leaving the sides about $100 million apart annually based on last season’s revenues. They are also sparring over the length of contracts and the raises attached to them, along with the penalties teams would face for exceeding the luxury tax level.

This comes after the NBA cancelled a further two more weeks of games which iSportconnect reported yesterday (25 October).

Roger Goodell, commissioner of the National Football League (NFL), has urged players to return to the bargaining table, saying each day there’s a work stoppage “puts our game and shared economics further at risk.”

The league enforced a lockout of its players a week ago after failing to agree on how to divide US$9bn in annual revenue with its players’ union, who subsequently decertified. Players began a class-action lawsuit against owners to block a lockout after the union announced it no longer would represent players at labor talks.

Goodell outlined the league’s last proposal yesterday in an e-mail to players, a copy of which was sent to Bloomberg News by the NFL and stated: “The offer presented a strong and fair basis for continuing negotiations, allowing the new league year and free agency to begin, and growing our game in the years to come.”

The letter said the league proposed a salary cap of $141m per club in 2011, rising to $161m by 2014; allowing free agency for players with four or more accrued seasons; reducing the offseason by five weeks, and retaining the 16-game regular season for the next two years.

NFL’s Seattle Seahawks player Chester Pitts message, “I’ve told my guys to take the letter and set it on fire. We’re not that stupid,” was relayed to ESPN by NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah.

Other elements mentioned in Goodell’s letter included guaranteeing as much as $1 million of salary in the second year of a contract for any injured player who cannot return to action. Players and their families were also offered the right to purchase medical coverage after retirement and pension benefits would increase by 60 percent for more than 2,000 retired players, the letter said.

Goodell added: “We are prepared to negotiate a full agreement that would incorporate these features and other progressive changes that would benefit players, clubs and fans. Only through collective bargaining will we reach that kind of agreement.”

Super Bowl seating issues took another turn recently after a group of fans revealed that they are suing the National Football League (NFL) and the Dallas Cowboys due to being denied seats to last weekend’s ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ despite having paid thousands of dollars for tickets.

The lawsuit was filed after the league admitted to mistakes that left about 400 paying supporters unable to watch Super Bowl XLV in person, and other Cowboys’ season ticket-holders watching from temporary metal chairs with obstructed views.

Fans filed the lawsuit late on Tuesday (February 8) in federal court in Dallas, accusing the league and team of breach of contract, fraud and deceptive trade practices and are seeking class-action status, more than US$5m of damages and unspecified punitive damages.

The league had invited the 400 affected fans who paid for tickets but did not get a seat at the game to a future Super Bowl of their choice and also offered the choice of a cash payment of $2,400 – three times the face value of the ticket – or round-trip airfare and a hotel. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated: “We are ultimately responsible for the fan experience and we want it to be the best it can possibly be.” 

The lawsuit contended that the NFL knew of seating problems before the game, but failed to tell fans in advance. It also accused Cowboys owner Jerry Jones of causing the problems with the hope of setting a Super Bowl attendance record. He fell short by 766, after some temporary seats were deemed unusable. In his attempts to break records, Jones efforts saw many fans ending up watching the game in standing-only positions.

The lawsuit also accused Jones of deceiving Cowboys season ticket-holders known as ‘founders’ into paying $1,200 a seat for Super Bowl tickets, only to be offered temporary metal fold-out chairs, many with obstructed views of the field and the stadium’s giant overhead video board.

Lead attorney Michael Avenatti told Reuters: “Frankly, it is astounding to us that the Cowboys and the NFL would treat its fans like this. What is perhaps even more amazing is that they still haven’t done the right thing.”

Memphis Grizzlies have announced that Chris Wallace has been named General Manager of the NBA franchise in a multi-year contract.

Wallace had acted as interim general manager since May 19, anesthetist 2014.

“We are very pleased to announce Chris Wallace as our general manager, buy ” said owner Robert Pera said. “Chris has been at the forefront and a stable presence throughout some of the Grizzlies’ greatest successes. His strong bonds and experience, impotent not only within the organization and NBA but also within the Memphis and Mid-South communities, make him the ideal fit to lead our basketball operations. We believe Chris’ skills and expertise to be vital in our continued success of our franchise.”

Wallace joined the Grizzlies as general manager and vice president of basketball operations on June 18, 2007 and assembled much of the talent that has helped guide the franchise to a club-record four consecutive playoff appearances. 

“I am honored to remain in Memphis. I love the city and the community,” Wallace said. “Robert Pera is strongly committed to the success of the Grizzlies, and I am excited to continue working in tandem with Robert, our front office and our coaching staff in helping realize his vision for the franchise.”

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have confirmed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have submitted a bid to host the expanded 2019 Asian Cup.

The are expected to see competition from Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

Friday is the deadline for countries to submit their proposals to host the tournament for Asia’s best 24 international sides, which expands from 16 after next year’s event in Australia. 

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran had all previously stated their intentions to host the Asian showpiece, which was previously held in Qatar in 2011. 

“We are honoured to have this opportunity to personally come to AFC House to hand over our bid book for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on behalf of the UAE Football Association,” UAE FA Acting General Secretary Mohammed Hazzam Al Dhaheri said in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. 

“Our nation has been hosting many international sporting events and also football competitions and we are looking forward to being the venue for this high-profile tournament.” 

Eleven nations, including China, Bahrain and Kuwait, had originally shown interest in staging the event, a marked improvement on the bidding process for the 2015 tournament where Australia were the sole applicants and then allowed extensions to get their proposal together. 

The host is expected to be announced by the AFC later this year.