Fulham have revealed plans to increase the capacity of their Craven Cottage stadium to 30,000 dashing claims of a possible move.

The stadium has been the Whites’ home since 1896 and currently holds 25,700 after several refurbishment projects over the past decade.

Recent speculation suggested Fulham have been looking to move to a new stadium, and a potential ground share with West London neighbours QPR or Chelsea has also been reported.

However, the Cottagers have confirmed that no such talks have taken place with either club and that they intend to stay at a redeveloped Craven Cottage.

Fulham chief executive Alastair Mackintosh said: “Fulham has seen unprecedented success both on and off the pitch in recent years, and is now an established Barclays Premier League club, qualifying for European competitions and accommodating over 25,000 people on a regular basis.

“We are confident that a redevelopment will improve the fans matchday experience, and enhance our corporate offering, whilst remaining sympathetic to the design of this historic ground.

“Naturally our core family values, and the tradition of the football club, continue to be at the forefront of everything we do. This investment at Craven Cottage demonstrates yet again the chairman’s continued ambition to see the club prosper and grow and to continue to compete at this level for many years to come.

“We are still in the very early stages of the planning process and will be holding a public exhibition in mid-October, where we would very much welcome people’s thoughts on our initial ideas.”

Fulham are looking at ways to develop the Riverside Stand in order to increase the stadium’s capacity up to 30,000.

The venue would also be subject to wider facility improvements and, as part of the consultation process, the club will begin speaking to residents, supporters and other interested groups from next week.

Fulham thought they had played their last match at Craven Cottage at the end of the 2001-02 campaign, spending the following season at QPR’s Loftus Road with the intention of starting out a new stadium a year later.

Opposition to the proposal put paid to the process and spiralling costs eventually resulted in the Whites aborting plans for a new home. Instead, the club invested money in refurbishment work to increase Craven Cottage’s capacity to 25,700, while upgrading facilities.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has rejected an appeal by Mohamed Bin Hammam against his suspension as head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), discount the AFC said in a statement.

Mr. Bin Hammam had appealed the AFC’s decision in July to appoint Zhang Jilong as acting president pending Mr. Bin Hammam’s appeal against a world soccer body FIFA ban for life on his involvement in soccer on charges of bribery. Mr. Jilong was also mandated to temporarily replace Mr. Bin Hammam on FIFA’s executive committee.

Mr. Bin Hammam had hoped that a decision by the Lausanne, Switzerland-based CAS would enable him to participate in FIFA’s next executive committee meeting scheduled for October 18.

Mr. Bin Hammam, who has denied any wrongdoing, was banned by FIFA in July for allegedly bribing officials of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to ensure their support his failed campaign for the FIFA presidency.

Mr. Bin Hammam, a Qatari national, withdrew his candidacy in late May hours before he was suspended pending the FIFA investigation that led to the ban. His withdrawal paved the way for the unchallenged re-election for a fourth term of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

By James M. Dorsey

The Intenational Tennis Federation has announced today that Steve Ayles will become ITF Executive Commercial Consultant for Asia-Pacific.

Ayles has held senior positions in sport for over 17 years, order including his most recent position as Director of Commercial for Tennis Australia where he was responsible for the successful strategy for the growth of the Australian Open in the Asia-Pacific Region. He was also the CEO of Tennis Queensland and tournament director for combined ATP/WTA Events for several years as well as the Hopman Cup, there the ITF’s International Mixed Team Championship and many Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties for Tennis Australia.

“The ITF is very happy to have Steve Ayles represent our commercial interests in the important Asia-Pacific region,” said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. “Steve has a wealth of experience in this area and is very well placed to promote our activities throughout this region. We think Steve is an excellent fit for the ITF because of his work at Tennis Australia and especially his involvement with our key competitions.”

“I am greatly looking forward to representing the ITF in Asia-Pacific,” said Ayles. “I have worked for a state federation and a national federation and now the international federation.  As someone who has had a major involvement with and great respect for key ITF activities like Davis Cup and Fed Cup, I am convinced that there are many opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region for the ITF properties.”

Ayles will report to ITF Executive Vice President Juan Margets.

Swimming’s below par performance at the London 2012 Olympics has resulted in their budget being slashed for the Rio de Janeiro Games in 2016 with rowing and boxing being the major winners in UK Sport’s latest investment announcement.

UK Sport announced on Tuesday that a record level of £347m funding – an increase of 11% on London 2012 – will be invested in the new four-year cycle with 80% of that heading for Olympic sports and 20% for the Paralympians.

It is a huge, albeit not unexpected, blow for the swimmers, who have been hit for their disappointing haul of three medals in the summer having been set a target of five to seven.

They have already had three years of funding withheld until it can prove its new blueprint to increase numbers is working. Their budget has been reduced by £4m to £21.4m.

UK sport chairperson Sue Campbell said: “It isn’t about being popular. It’s about making the right decisions. It’s about tough compassion, investing money strategically to have greatest the impact.”

Two big beneficiaries are rowing and boxing. GB’s rowers will receive 19% extra money – up to £32.6m – having impressed with four golds, two silvers and three bronzes.

Boxing’s purse will be bulging by an extra 44% with an increase to £13.7m thanks to five medals, including three golds, though £9.55m is conditional on sport sorting out some internal issues.

Cycling (up 16% to £30.6m) and athletics (up 6.7% to £26.8m) also enjoyed increases, although basketball, wrestling, handball and table tennis have had their budgets completely cut.

With GB’s athletes winning 65 medals in the Olympics and 120 in the

Paralympics, UK Sport has targeted 66 Olympic medals and 121 Paralympic medals in Brazil in four years.

“We want to be the first nation in recent history to be more successful in the Olympics and Paralympics post hosting,” UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholl said.

“We are very confident we can be even better in Rio than in London.”

Mobivity Holdings Corporation, an award-winning provider of patented mobile marketing technologies and solutions, has announced a partnership with Florida Citrus Sports to cover four bowl games over the next two years.

During each game Mobivity will work with Florida Citrus Sports to encourage fan engagement for both the Capital One Bowl and the Russell Athletic Bowl, allowing fans to interact with Florida Citrus Sports using their patented mobile marketing platform, as well as in-stadium HD graphics for live polling and interaction during sporting events.

Michael Falato, Senior VP of Sales and Business Development for Mobivity, stated, “We couldn’t be more excited about working with the Florida Citrus and Tangerine Sports Associations. College-aged individuals are some of the most active in the mobile world, and we’re looking forward to seeing heightened engagement and fan interaction for the Capitol One and Russell Athletic Bowl games.

Mobivity will be developing and managing two real-time HD video board graphics for each of the two bowl games over the two-year contract. Mobivity’s patented and award-winning Display technology will allow Florida Citrus Sports to engage fans during each event through high-definition graphics that will display polls, voting, and contests aimed to increase fan engagement before, during, and after events.

“We are always looking to enhance the fan experience at our games, and Mobivity’s services help us to stay proactive in the mobile space,” said Steven Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports. “Fans are now accustomed to using cell phones to interact during a sporting event, and together with Mobivity we can give them this opportunity.”

Japanese athletic equipment company ASICS Europe has continued its growth across the continent by increasing sales by 13.2 per cent between January and September 2011. 

Running footwear sales rose 21 per cent and running apparel 25 per cent. The company also enjoyed significant revenue increases in tennis and indoor sports.

By country, recipe ASICS said Austria, Benelux, UK and Germany enjoyed solid growth. Scandinavia, France, Spain and Poland provided significant double-digit growth, while Russia just missed out on posting triple growth figures.

The release of its latest financial results follows the successful launch of ASICS’ ‘Made of Sport’ advertising campaign, which has been supported by the largest media spend in the company’s history, and the launch of the new 33 collection into the natural running market. 

ASICS has also recently re-signed as title sponsor of the Paris and New York City marathons and announced the signing of Samantha Stosur as its global tennis ambassador. 

Alistair Cameron, CEO of ASICS Europe, said: “During 2011 ASICS Europe has invested heavily, laying strong foundations for future growth that will continue to strengthen our premium sports performance position.” 

“Significant investment has been made in a centrally managed retail organisation; a strengthened performance footwear team; a fully operational apparel design, development and product marketing team; the complete separation of a new, fully integrated business unit focusing on Onitsuka Tiger; and our most impactful and best received media campaign ever. 

“Despite the economic challenges in our region, ASICS Europe is set to continue to outperform the market place as the trusted premium brand.”

drugs helvetica, sans-serif;”>West Ham United FC initial deal to have the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 has folded after mounting concerns about legal challenges over the bidding process, the British government said today.

West Ham had not signed any contracts with the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) meaning the $760 million stadium will instead remain in public ownership after the Olympics and be rented out to the winner of a new bidding process.

The battle for control of the stadium has been fiercely disputed since West Ham was selected ahead of London rival Tottenham in February to be the preferred long-term tenant.

British sports minister Hugh Robertson said: “The action we have taken today is about removing the uncertainty—the process had become bogged down in legal paralysis. We know there is huge interest in the stadium out there from private operators and football clubs and crucially we remove any uncertainty.

“This is not a white elephant stadium where no one wants it, we have had two big clubs fighting tooth and nail to get it.”

London’s High Court had approved Tottenham’s request to mount a full legal challenge against the decision by West Ham’s local authority to provide a $63 million loan to fund the second-tier club’s move into the stadium.

Fourth-tier east London club Leyton Orient was also challenging the decision, while an anonymous complaint to the European Commission about the apparent use of Newham Council funds by West Ham fueled concerns that the legal disputes could drag on for years.

Robertson also said the Olympic Park Legacy Company received a letter from Newham on Monday saying that “because of the uncertainty they no longer wanted to proceed.”

“That was the straw that broke the camel’s back and we thought it better to stop it dead in it tracks now,” Robertson said.

But West Ham said it will bid again under the new terms that could be more financially favorable for the east London club, which was relegated from the Premier League in May.

Karen Brady, West Ham vice-chairman said: “Uncertainty caused by the anonymous complaint to the European Commission and ongoing legal challenges have put the Olympic legacy at risk and certainly a stadium, as we envisioned it, may not be in place by 2014 due as a direct result of the legal delay,” Brady said. 

“Therefore we would welcome a move by OPLC and government to end that uncertainty and allow a football and athletics stadium to be in place by 2014 under a new process. 

“If the speculation is true, West Ham will look to become a tenant of the stadium while Newham will aim to help deliver the legacy.

“Our bid is the only one that will secure the sporting and community legacy promise of the Olympic Stadium – an amazing year-round home for football, athletics and community events of which the nation could be proud.”

Some $55 million has already been earmarked under the Olympic budget to downsize the stadium from an 80,000- to a 60,000-seat facility after the games.

One certainty is that the running track will remain in the stadium regardless of the outcome, with London bidding to host the 2017 world athletics championships.

“It’s fantastic for UK Athletics and it is a bold and decisive move by the legacy company,” UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said.

West Ham had planned to retain the running track after leaving Upton Park, but Tottenham proposed knocking down most of the stadium and building a 60,000-seat, soccer-only venue on the same site without any athletics legacy. With London bidding for the 2017 Athletics World Championships centering around the stadium, the track is essential to the bid

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and FIFA President Sepp Blatter are set to have a major meeting today in Brussels, Belgium to discuss a disagreement over a bill in the country’s Congress that could restrict the revenue of world football’s governing body.

Brazilian newspaper Estado de São Paulo reported that the two would meet to diffuse tensions over restrictions on FIFA which would be created by the new regulations.

Brazil’s Sports Minister Orlando Silva was quoted by the paper as saying that they would meet in Belgium, and indicated that Rousseff is willing to compromise with Blatter.

The bill stipulates penalties of two or three months for those found guilty of infringing trademarks or selling pirate goods, which the paper says FIFA believe to be too lenient, whilst Brazil also want local broadcasters to have limited access to show matches during the tournament, another sticking point with non-rights holders barred from screening World Cup games.

Another issue which will likely be debated is a measure Rousseff has proposed for students and pensioners will be able to attend games for half the price of normal admission costs, which FIFA is thought to be unhappy with.

The relationship between FIFA and Brazil has changed since Rousseff’s election in January, when she replaced the football-loving President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

When winning the right to host the World Cup under his leadership, Brazil agreed to FIFA requirements placed on it in the contract it signed at the time, but Rousseff is determined not to have legislation imposed on her Government.

Tensions between Brazil 2014 organisers and FIFA have already been risen as a result of the slow pace of preparations for the World Cup.

The original announcement of host cities was delayed and left to FIFA after Organising Committee chief Ricardo Teixeira refused to make the decision and passed on the responsibility.

Since then, delays in the construction of stadia have threatened to put preparations at risk, with some stadiums not even seeing work beginning until this year.

Already the Itaquera in São Paulo, scheduled to host the first match of the tournament and on which construction began just months ago, has been taken off the list for the 2013 Confederations Cup, the dry run ahead of the World Cup, while the iconic Maracanã is still not a certainty to make that tournament.

Upgrading infrastructure also remains well behind schedule, with officials facing a race against time to increase airport capacity in time for 2014.

Rousseff is also planning to introduce significant tax breaks for telecoms companies who invest in new networks in time for the 2014 World Cup in a bid to ensure communications to do not break down during the tournament, Reuters reported.

Analysts had warned that Brazil’s networks were at risk of collapse during the World Cup without significant work.

FIFA is pressuring Brazil’s congress to pass a bill announcing the schedule of games for the World Cup by the time of its congress on October 20, but there are growing fears this deadline could be missed

Sporting Park will host the opening four matches in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship on Oct. 15 and 16, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday.

“This tournament provides fans with another opportunity to see some of the best women’s soccer players in the world compete on the international level,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati.

“We look forward to an exciting World Cup qualifying round played in the United States at some of the best stadiums in the world in front of passionate football fans,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb.

The tournament will feature eight countries from North America, Central America and the Caribbean region vying for berths in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup next summer. As host of the Women’s World Cup, Canada has secured its berth, so the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship will include the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and four teams to be determined at the CFU Women’s Caribbean Cup from Aug. 19-26.

All eight countries, including the U.S. Women’s National Team, will kick off their qualifying campaigns in Kansas City, Kansas with their first of three group stage matches. Sporting Park will host international doubleheaders on back-to-back nights beginning with Group A on Oct. 15 and followed by Group B on Oct. 16.

The full tournament schedule, including opponents and kickoff times, will be set at the Final Draw on Sept. 5 in Miami. Ticket information will be made available in the near future.

The full tournament schedule, including opponents and kickoff times, will be set at the Final Draw on Sept. 5 in Miami. Ticket information will be made available in the near future.