Major League Soccer’s (MLS) newest team Montreal Impact has announced that the planned expansion of Saputo Stadium by 7,000 seats has been delayed.

The Canadian club will join the MLS next year as an expansion franchise, but the stadium project, which was originally scheduled to be completed next spring, will now not be completed until the summer of 2012.

The Impact has US$23 million in government funding to complete the build, but the club has been unable to find a suitable construction partner.

The delay means that the team will play some of its first games in MLS at the 66,000-seater Olympic Stadium.

Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo said: “The cost was globally too high. It is not a question for us to exceed the total public money awarded for the expansion project. We have worked hard over the last few weeks with the different people involved to find solutions to expand our stadium to 20,000 seats, under a roof, while respecting the initial budget.”

A second bidding process for the stadium’s expansion will take place next year. “We had the option to start the season on the road or to look for an alternative,” Saputo added. “We prefer to play a few matches at Olympic Stadium. We want all games to be an event, especially our first game in MLS in Montreal.”

According to former German international soccer icon Franz Beckenbauer, FIFA is “in a bad condition” following the recent allegations of corruption.

Beckenbauer, who led the organising committee for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, recently stepped down from the Executive Committee of world soccer’s governing body.

Whilst attending the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in the South African city of Durban in support of Munich’s bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, Beckenbauer admitted that times are tough for FIFA.

Beckenbauer told The Associated Press: “I think FIFA now and football in general is in a bad condition because of all these rumours. It has hurt football, (and) it shouldn’t be (hurt).”

However, Beckenbauer insisted that evidence of wrongdoing must be obtained to back up the allegations, adding: “You can say he is guilty or he is guilty, it is just speculation, a lot of rumours,” he said. “There is no evidence.”

Beckenbauer continued to say that FIFA could learn from the IOC in how to hold elections for event hosts after the controversial process that led to Russia and Qatar being awarded the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, respectively, after they made major reforms in the wake of the corruption scandal that engulfed Salt Lake City’s winning bid for the 2002 Winter Games.

At December’s vote, FIFA’s Executive Committee members were the only people allowed to vote on the bids for the World Cup as opposed to the IOCs system of allowing all its members to choose their preferred candidate.

Beckenbauer said: “I think everybody has the right to be part of the decision not only 24 people (on the Executive Committee). I think it’s not a bad idea the example the IOC gives; it’s a good idea for FIFA.”

Weber Shandwick Sport, a leading communications agency, has been appointed by The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in horseracing, as its centrally retained communications agency.

Weber Shandwick Sport will work alongside Scott Bowers, The Jockey Club’s group director of communications, to provide communications support aimed at promoting the 260-year-old organisation and its 14 leading UK racecourses, training facilities, breeding operation, charity arm and other interests.

Weber Shandwick Sport was also recently appointed as the retained communications agency for British Champions Series, UK horseracing’s new premier Flat racing series, in which The Jockey Club is the largest shareholder.

The Jockey Club’s racecourses host many of British racing’s iconic festivals, including the John Smith’s Grand National Meeting at Aintree, the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs, the Cheltenham Festival and the Guineas Festival at Newmarket.

Scott Bowers stated: “The Jockey Club is at the heart of the UK’s second biggest spectator sport, but we are also a multi-dimensional company with a wide range of interests. In Weber Shandwick Sport we have a partner offering award-winning sports expertise and a track record of reaching out to consumer and business audiences across the board, which should complement us well.”

Fiona McLachlan, head of sport at Weber Shandwick, added: “We’re very excited to work for the leading commercial group in British horseracing, in a sport that is making every effort to market itself better. The Jockey Club owns many of racing’s most iconic and valuable assets, including some of the UK’s most famous racecourses.”

Sponsors of  Olympic sports in South Korea are enjoying the benefits of their marketing campaigns after the South Korean Olympic team returned home with a high number of medals in sports that are generally not popular sports in the country.

Manufacturing company, SK Group was a major sponsor of the Korean fencing team thatbrought back six medals from the London Games.  The country’s shooting team, sponsored by manufacturing and construction company, Hanwha Group, won five medals as did Korean archery team, sponsored by Hyundai Motor Group.

A spokesperson for the Federation of Korean Industries said the positive results in less popular sports has been very beneficial to the companies that sponsored them.{jcomments on}

Goal-line technology is set to get the go-ahead by football’s law-makers after successful trials over its accuracy, according to sources on the International FA Board (IFAB).

Exhaustive tests on the two systems, Hawk-Eye and GoalRef, are said to have been successful and will be ratified by the IFAB next week.

The news comes in the wake of another controversial moment at a major tournament, as Ukraine had a goal disallowed in a group-deciding game with England when it was shown to be over the line.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who had previously resisted calls for technology to be introduced, said it was a “necessity” after the incident but his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini is still opposed.

It was Platini’s idea to deploy extra match officials near to both goals as a trial during Euro 2012. He maintains it would be a “historical mistake” if goal-line technology was introduced.

Although the tests aren’t thought to have proved 100% accurate in every case, they are still thought to be valuable enough to be introduced, though the IFAB are keen to stress it will be used as an aid for referees, who will still make the final call.

Both systems are designed to send an instant message to a specially adapted watch worn by the referee and have been tested in extreme weather conditions to uncover their durability.

The IFAB carries four votes on law changes, as does FIFA, with six needed to carry it through. Even if the motion is carried it will take several months for it to be introduced to stadiums.

FIFA are targeting the Cub World Championship in December as the first time they will be used for one of their tournaments.

The FIM British Speedway Grand Prix is set to return to Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2012 after a new five-year deal was agreed with both the stadium and the Welsh Government.

Next year’s event is set to take place on Saturday, August 25 2012.

It will be the twelfth British SGP to be hosted at the Millennium Stadium, with this year’s flagship World Championship event attracting in excess of 43,000 fans – putting it right up there with the biggest on the British motorsport calendar.

BSI Speedway managing director, Paul Bellamy, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been able to extend our contract and commitment to Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium for another five years. As ever, we will look to continue to raising the bar and give fans the most amazing experience.

“This year’s meeting was again a huge success and as a city, Cardiff has totally embraced World Championship speedway. The Fanzone proved even more popular than ever this time around.

“As always, we want to ensure fans are getting value for money. So as well as joining forces with the stadium and Welsh Government, we’ll once again be working with Cardiff & Co to offer fans booking advance tickets the chance to reserve hotel rooms at reasonable rates.

“This new five-year deal is great news for us, the fans and for Cardiff, and we’re very much looking forward to another great year leading up to the next British SGP.”

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, said: “I’m delighted that we are able to announce a funding package for the BSI Speedway Grand Prix for 2012 – 2016 which will give stability for the event to grow and prosper in Wales.

“The event attracts visitors from outside of Wales to Cardiff and provides a significant economic boost to the city. This year, the event was televised in 140 territories, giving Wales’ profile a major boost.

“This support secures the event at the Millennium Stadium for the next five years as it is an important fixture for the summer season in the city.”

Millennium Stadium Manager, Gerry Toms, said: “We are delighted that the British SGP will be continuing its close and successful association with us for the next five years.

“The event has become a firm attraction on the calendar of major events which take place at the Millennium Stadium and it is always an exciting, entertaining and dramatic occasion when speedway comes to Cardiff.

“All of the world’s best riders take part and the levels of skill and competition on show create a truly amazing spectacle for the fans.

“The feedback we get from people who attend is invariably always extremely positive and the atmosphere and excitement created by speedway extends from the stadium on to the streets of our capital city with a true sense of something big taking place here.

“There is always a sense of growing excitement as we transform the stadium from a rugby venue into a racetrack and the hard work everyone puts in is always worth it because we are always assured of a great show.”

Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) acting president Lisle Austin, who was suspended from the role having initially stepped in to replace the ousted Jack Warner, claimed a court ruling yesterday, June 30, allowing him to return to office.

Austin assumed the position of acting head of CONCACAF after Warner was suspended by FIFA’s Ethics Committee in the wake of its investigation into bribery allegations. Warner later resigned but Austin was then suspended by the CONCACAF Executive Committee after trying to dismiss general secretary Chuck Blazer.

This ruling was extended on a global basis by FIFA, but Austin has now fired back after claiming victory in a court ruling in the Bahamas. Austin stated that the Bahamian court had ruled that CONCACAF’s decision to suspend him and appoint Alfredo Hawit in his place was a contempt of court because the body had ignored an earlier injunction.

A statement from Austin, reported by Reuters, read: “In its ruling yesterday (Wednesday) the Bahamian Court held that CONCACAF is in contempt of court as a result of its disobedience of the terms of the Order dated 10 June, 2011.

“As a result of the contempt, the court did not allow CONCACAF to proceed with its hearing to discharge the order. Therefore, the injunction against CONCACAF remains in place,” he added. “The organisation cannot interfere with my ability to perform my duties as acting president. It is my intention to lead CONCACAF into an era of transparency, accountability and reform.”