FIFA has cautioned Gambia that it may incur “severe sanctions” after the government dissolved the national football association following a loss in an African Cup of Nations qualifying match.

FIFA said on Tuesday that it wrote to the Gambia FA insisting it has not “recognized and/or condoned” the Gambian Ministry of Youth and Sport’s decision.

“In particular, no governmental instituted ‘interim committee’ would be recognized and/or dealt with by FIFA,” the governing body of football said.

FIFA has asked the elected officials who have been ousted to report on their situation by Thursday.

“Upon expiry of this deadline, the submission of the present case to FIFA’s Emergency Committee will be evaluated,” FIFA warned.

The emergency panel chaired by FIFA President Sepp Blatter can suspend countries from world football if it decides that governments have interfered in running the sport.

The ministry fired Gambia FA officials on Friday after the national team lost 2-1 to Algeria in the home leg of a 2013 African Cup qualifier.

“FIFA underlines that any action taken against the GFA’s executive committee would constitute a clear governmental interference and therefore infringe the FIFA Statutes which could lead to severe sanctions,” the warning letter said.

Suspension from world football prevents teams and officials, at national and club level, from taking part in international matches and meetings. FIFA also cuts off funding and grants.

The dispute could stop Gambian club Brikama United from playing in the African Champions League against defending champion Esperance of Tunisia. The teams are scheduled to meet in the first leg of the first round on the weekend of March 23-25.

Gambia’s national team is next due to play on June 1 against Morocco in a friendly. The return match against Algeria is slated for June 15.

The Gambia FA is led by president Seedy Kinteh, who is a member of FIFA’s development committee, which allocates millions of dollars in project funding each year.

Rugby World Cup 2011 has been touted as an “exceptional event” and an “outstanding success” by Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman Bernard Lapasset after it reached all of its ticketing, sponsorship and broadcast goals.

The Frenchman also stated that the tournament has achieved the key goals of furthering the profile of Rugby and New Zealand around the world.

New Zealand’s 8-7 victory over France in the Rugby World Cup 2011 Final brought down the curtain on a tournament that achieved all ticketing, sponsorship and broadcast targets as over 100,000 international fans joined New Zealanders in attending matches at Rugby’s showcase event.

Lapasset said: “New Zealand 2011 will be remembered as an exceptional Rugby World Cup. It has been a tournament where New Zealand’s rich culture and heritage has gone hand in hand with Rugby’s tradition and values.”

“New Zealanders should be proud of their event. They made it special by embracing the tournament the length and breadth of the country, welcoming all 20 teams and 100,000 international visitors with open arms. It was quite remarkable.”

An independent study commissioned by MasterCard during the tournament has indicated that the event is due to deliver NZ$750 million ($602.7m) in direct economic benefits for New Zealand and over NZD$2 billion ($1.6bn) long-term benefits.

“The significant economic benefits demonstrate the true value of Rugby World Cup to a host nation, its Government, tourism and business sectors. The great thing about New Zealand 2011 is that there will be no ‘white elephants’. The legacy is clear and long lasting,” he added.

The Tournament will also deliver the financial platform for the International Rugby Board to continue to invest funds that are vital to the growth and prosperity of Rugby worldwide.

Revenues from the Rugby World Cup 2011 commercial programme, including broadcast, sponsorship and travel and hospitality will deliver an estimated £80 million net surplus boost to the Game.

Rugby World Cup accounts for 95% of the IRB’s revenues. In the 2009-2012 investment cycle the global governing body is investing £150 million ($238m) to develop and grow the Game around the world in order that future Rugby World Cups are more competitive and that more men, women and children can play the Game.

English Golfer Tom Lewis, member of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team and winner of the 2011 Open Championship Silver Medal, announced that he has turned professional and signed with IMG, for worldwide management and marketing representation.

Tom has agreed deals with Ping, Titleist/FootJoy, Tullow Oil and Upper Deck which will help him secure financial standing as he looks to make his mark in the professional ranks

“IMG’s management credentials are second to none in the industry and I am very happy to be joining their team of players that includes many of the world’s best,” Tom said.

Part of the victorious GB&I Walker Cup team last weekend, Tom has enjoyed a distinguished amateur career including wins at the 2009 Boys Amateur Championship and, more recently, at the 2011 St Andrews Links Trophy. He grew in popularity when he was tied for the lead on the opening day of the 2011 Open.

Bahrain will host a European Tour golf event for the first time in January 2011, it has been announced.

Event sponsors Volvo and the European Tour unveiled the new competition yesterday which will offer US$2.2 million in prize money.

The tournament is being supported by the Bahrain Economic Development Board.

The tournament will take place between 27 and 30 January 2011 at the Royal Golf Club’s Montgomerie championship course.

It will be a ‘Tournament of champions-style’ competition and will see European Tour tournament winners compete together with leading amateurs on one day of the tournament.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has signed a multi-year deal with electronics company Toshiba Corporation to become its brand ambassador.

Tendulkar will take on the role across the company’s product categories of LCD televisions and home appliances, as well as for corporate branding in India.

With Tendulkar on board, Toshiba will be launching an extensive cross-product media campaign, with the key message of ‘Quality technology design’.

While the terms of the deal were not revealed, it is reported that Tendulker’s annual brand endorsement fees are between US$850,000 to US$1 million.

Kenji Urai, Managing Director of Toshiba India Private Limited, said: “Cricket is the most popular sport in India and Sachin, the most formidable and popular cricketer is an influential figure.

“His cricketing achievements and constant quest for high performance is in line with Toshiba’s “Leading Innovation” tagline, where Toshiba aims to provide products with innovation in high quality, leading-edge technology and stylish design.”

Premiership Rugby have announced today the appointment of Paul Sherrell as Head of Partnerships.

Sherrell is the former Commercial Director at Saracens and Director at Sponsorship & Events Agency – RT Marketing.

At Saracens and RT Marketing Paul was responsible for sponsorship acquisition and development working in rugby and other sports, with brands such as Garmin, McLaren, Virgin Atlantic and Nike.

“There are few people better placed to build on the golden era for English rugby,” said Premiership Rugby’s Commercial Director, Dominic Hayes.

“He will primarily be overseeing the management of current partners and the acquisition of new partners not just for Aviva Premiership Rugby but for the Premiership Rugby 7s and the World Club 7s.

“There has never been a better time to invest in Premiership Rugby. Our partnership with BT Sport has ensured huge growth in the number of people watching Aviva Premiership Rugby on TV and league attendances are up by two per cent on the previous year.

“Paul has a proven track record and a wealth of commercial and event experience as Director of RT Marketing, including consultancy and management of projects across Formula One, rugby, festivals and Olympic Games.

“We are delighted to have him on board.”

The inaugural World Tenpin Bowling Association World Senior Championships will be held at Red Rock Lanes in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States next year.

The event, which will feature the world’s top bowlers age 50 and older, will take place Aug. 10-16 at the Red Rock Resort, just before the 2013 WTBA World Championships.

“This will be the first opportunity for senior bowlers to win world champion medals,” WTBA President and CEO Kevin Dornberger said. “Red Rock is one of the most stunning bowling centers in the entire world, and we look forward to them hosting the best senior bowlers in the world.”

The format on the World Senior Championships will pattern after the WTBA World Youth Championships, with four men and four women eligible from each country. The competitors will face off for medals in singles, doubles, team, all-events and Masters.

The 72-lane Red Rock Lanes opened in 2007 to much fanfare as one of the most expensive bowling centers ever built. Red Rock Vice President Bryan Lindsey said they look forward to hosting the World Senior Championships.

“When the top senior bowlers in the world descend upon Las Vegas for the World Senior Championships, they will have a world-class experience at Red Rock Resort,” Lindsey said. “Red Rock Lanes is second to none with cutting edge technology, sharp decor and one-of-a-kind VIP lanes. In addition to bowling, Red Rock Resort offers more than a dozen dining options ranging from a quick bite to upscale, state-of-the-art gaming, movie theaters and stunning pool area. This will be more than a competition, it will be a complete travel experience for competitors and their guests.”

The International Biathlon Union IBU) have inked a new marketing rights partnership with Infront Sports & Media for the IBU World Cup and the IBU World Championships Biathlon for the period 2014-2018 during the 10th Regular IBU Congress.

IBU President Anders Besseberg commented: “With the signatures on this contract today the long, sale good cooperation with Infront Sports & Media will be continued. We had long, doctor tough, impotent but fair negotiations during the last six months and the results were also regarded very well by the Presidents of our member federations. I am happy about this continued cooperation with Infront, which constitutes an important financial basis for the sport of biathlon.”

Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Infront Sports & Media, said: “We are extremely pleased with the prolongation of this partnership and thank the IBU for its ongoing trust in our team as well as in our expert know-how in winter sports marketing. The new agreement also confirms the success of the central marketing approach – enabled by a close collaboration between the IBU, the national biathlon federations and Infront. With the IBU World Cup and the IBU World Championships Biathlon being among the core properties of our extensive winter sports portfolio, we now look forward to continuing on this successful joint path and to further strengthening both the popularity and the premium value of these flagship events on an international scale.”

The contract will be implemented by Infront’s wholly owned subsidiary Infront Austria, located in Salzburg and led by Stefan Krauss und Michael Witta.

Zurich-based world football governing body FIFA has fined Kenya’s football federation 12,000 Swiss Francs ($13,170), and warned of possible future sanctions, after safety has slipped at the country’s national stadium.

There were reports last November of fans rushing for shelter in a covered grandstand after rain fell before a World Cup qualifying match.

FIFA said the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) was liable for improper conduct among spectators, and didn’t take necessary safety precautions.

FIFA warned future sanctions might include a deduction of points in Kenya’s 2014 World Cup qualifying group.

The FKF told BBC Sport: “We have engaged the services of a private security firm to beef up the security at the Nyayo Stadium, as was evidenced during our match versus Togo,” the FKF’s secretary-general Omondi Aduda insisted.

“When this incident took place, during the Kenya v Seychelles match, we realised that there were two points from which the fans tried to gain entry into the VIP area from the terraces.

“As a precautionary measure, the federation – together with the stadium management – did erect a 25m razor wire to prevent this happening again.

“We have also – with the help of the police – been able to place armed policemen on the respective areas where we have also installed the razor wire to ensure that no fan makes an attempt to climb over the barbed wire to get entrance from the terraces.

“The Kenyan police are also establishing a section of their officers to be trained as event managers.

by Ismail Uddin