Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has suggested the country will bid for to stage the European Championship for the first time in 2020 on Thursday,

In a speech to delegates at the opening of the UEFA Congress, Erdogan said: “I would like to repeat the request to host the European Championship in Istanbul in 2020.”

The proposal comes as Turkish footballing authorities grapple with a match-fixing investigation, under which 93 people including the chairman of champions Fenerbahce are currently being tried in an Istanbul court.

UEFA will formally start the bidding process next week when all 53 nations will be invited to apply for what is generally regarded as the world’s third biggest sports event after the summer Olympic Games and the World Cup.

The tournament, which was first staged with four teams in 1960, will have 24 finalists from 2016 onwards which limits the number of countries who can stage it single-handedly.

Turkey lost out by a single vote to France in a bid to stage the 2016 finals but since then it has also expressed its wish to stage the 2020 summer Olympics and would unlikely be in a position to host both events in the same year.

Earlier this year sports minister Suat Kilic said that Turkey was concentrating its efforts on an Olympic bid.

by Ismail Uddin

German soccer federation (DFB) chief Theo Zwanziger will run for a FIFA Executive Committee spot that will be left vacant when Franz Beckenbauer steps downs in March 2011, the DFB said.

Beckenbauer said earlier this month he wanted to spend more time with his family, paving the way for Zwanziger to seek election as the European soccer’s (UEFA) representative on the FIFA board at the UEFA congress on March 22 in Paris.

The 65-year-old, who took the helm of the DFB in 2004 alongside Gerhard Meyer-Vorfelder before leading it alone since 2006, was re-elected unopposed to the post for another three-year term in October.

“Franz Beckenbauer is a highly regarded representative of German football around the world who did his job in an outstanding manner the past few years,” Zwanziger said of the World Cup winning captain and coach.

“It is the aim of the DFB to support our interests in committees of world soccer and that is why I run for this post.”

He said he had already informed European soccer chief Michel Platini and FIFA boss Sepp Blatter of his decision.

“I am happy that he has decided to run for the post despite the difficulties this job brings with it,” Beckenbauer said in a statement.

“Theo Zwanziger is the best solution for German soccer.”

London will bid for the 2016 LEN European Swimming Championships with the capital’s new Aquatics Centre at the heart of the proposal, British Swimming has confirmed.

The bid for the event, that features Swimming, Diving and Synchronised Swimming, has the full backing of Mayor of London Boris Johnson and the Mayor’s promotional organisation London & Partners, UK Sport and the Olympic Park Legacy Company. It was finalised with LEN representatives at a House of Lords reception hosted by UK Sport Chair Baroness Sue Campbell.

British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes said: “The agreement to work with LEN on a partnership to bring the 2016 European Championships to London will ensure the Olympic pool has an events legacy and will allow our athletes to prepare for their next Olympic milestone, Rio de Janeiro.

“A successful bid would also provide an additional legacy in terms of inspiring people within the surrounding boroughs to participate in swimming and to enjoy the health benefits this brings.”

A decision from European governing body is expected in September at the LEN Bureau Meeting in Portugal.

The championships have always been an aspiration for British Swimming, UK Sport, the Olympic Park Legacy Company and London.  Since 2010 the partnership has worked to determine the feasibility of the UK hosting the event in the London Aquatics Centre.

Simon Morton, UK Sport’s Director of Major Events and International Relations, said: “UK Sport is leading the work to use London 2012 as a catalyst to bring some of the world’s biggest international sporting events to the UK.

“In the past 12 months alone we’ve been able to use our position as an Olympic host nation to help secure future World Championships for the UK in Athletics, Gymnastics, Triathlon and Canoe Slalom. The 2016 European Swimming Championships, in the spectacular Olympic Aquatics Centre, would make a fantastic addition to this programme of major international events.

“We are working closely with British Swimming and the other event partners to finalise a strong funding package and a compelling bid proposal, which we hope will demonstrate to LEN why they should entrust the UK with hosting their most prestigious event in 2016.”

The European Championships would be followed closely by a large London swimming fan base which last week ensured the British Gas Swimming Championships at the Aquatic Centre were a sell out success.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “Hosting the LEN European Swimming Championships in 2016 would see the largest event held in the Aquatics Centre after the Games and would build on the legacy of our Olympic venues as being the first choice for elite sporting events.

“Swimming has a huge following in London and staging this fantastic championships would not just be a wonderful accolade for our city but a chance for Londoners to enjoy some first-class sport right on their doorstep.”

The Olympic Park Legacy Company is working with British Swimming and other National Governing Bodies for sport to ensure an ongoing programme of sporting events across all of its venues on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Andrew Altman, Chief Executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, said: “Major events such as the 2016 LEN European Swimming Championships will enhance the legacy of sporting, commercial and job opportunities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the Games.

“The Aquatics Centre is a powerful draw and our bid is another example of how London is further ahead in planning legacy than any previous host Olympic city.”

Iain Edmondson, Head of Major Events for London & Partners said: “Securing the 2016 LEN European Swimming Championships for London would provide significant benefits for the city and another deliverable legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

“London & Partners is currently working closely with UK Sport and the Olympic Park Legacy Company to secure a programme of on-going major events which attract international visitors and investors to London.  We are delighted to support British Swimming for what would be a major coup for the city’s sporting calendar and further recognition that London is the best big city on earth for sport.”

by Ismail Uddin

Tube bonus payments of up to £850 to staff working extra time during the Olympics have been rejected as ‘not being enough’.

Unite the Union, which represents hundreds of maintenance workers, says the offer has too many strings attached. Also the threat of strike action by 28,000 London bus staff over bonus payments increases today.

Rejection of the £850 offer is a huge blow to London Underground (LU) bosses who thought the payments would see an end to the long run row over Olympic bonuses.

Unite has also threatened strike action for London’s 28,000 bus staff unless they get £500 each, but bus operators have not yet offered anything.

John Morgan-Evans, Unite regional officer, said: “Unite was prepared to accept the deal, but the strings attached are totally unacceptable. It would be irresponsible to accept this deal as it would put our members’ health and safety at risk.

“Our members have been asked to agree to limitless changes to hours and place of work at short notice, not only during the games but for an undefined and potentially indefinite period after the games are over.

“We can’t give LU a free hand to make such changes outside of the normal processes of negotiation. This has never been just about reward. It is also about protecting the health and family life of our members.”

The RMT, which represents the vast majority of staff, is still considering the £850 offer.

A spokesman said: “Our LU representatives are in negotiations with members and our executive committee will make a decision in due course.”

Bob Crow, the RMT leader, had already turned down a £500-a-time bonus as not being enough.

Under a separate deal train drivers have agreed bonuses of between £800 and £1200.

Senior sources said Transport for London (TfL) had “little option”, with time running out to the Games, but to agree the deal.

“TfL was under huge pressure and the unions held all the trump cards, the last thing wanted at this stage was even a threat of strikes in the run up to or during the Games,” said one.

Howard Collins, LU Chief Operating Officer, said: “We have put forward an offer which would see station, maintenance, service control staff and operational managers receive up to £850 for working flexibly during the 2012 London Games, subject to attendance, customer satisfaction scores and agreement from operational staff to work flexibly in order to deliver a successful Games.

“In return we are asking staff to work longer hours at different times of the day, to be prepared to work extra hours and to be more flexible in how and where they carry out their role for us during these crucial weeks. We know our employees want to play their part in delivering a great Games for London, so reaching agreement on this will allow all of us to focus on that exciting challenge together.”

The unions have already used their industrial muscle to force through other huge Olympic bonuses. These include up to £2,500 for staff working on the Docklands Light Railway, up to £900 for London Overground (TfL) drivers and £500 for Virgin Trains and Network Rail employees.

Unite will be balloting its members on 30 March with a view to potential industrial action.

Peter Kavanagh, Unite regional secretary for London, said: “London’s bus operators are not taking their responsibility for transport during the Games seriously by refusing to even meet with Unite to discuss a reasonable Olympic payment. Bus workers will be central to the transport infrastructure during the Olympics and their importance should be recognised.”

by Ismail Uddin

FIFA have released a press statement in the light of BBC’s Panorama special concerning allegations of bribe taking by three of the remaining officials set to vote on the 2018/2022 World Cup bids. The documentary, aired on Monday 29 November, revealed information alleging that Nicolas Leoz, Issa Hayatou and Ricardo Teixeira had taken bribes in the 1990’s.

The alleged dealings listing 175 payments totalled around US$100m. The BBC have come under fire for criticism over the timing of the programme just 3 days before the decision on the host nations of the World Cup’s 2018/2022 will be made.

Though none of the three men would comment on the allegations made in the documentary, it is feared that England’s World Cup bid could be affected by the revelations. Andy Anson, Head of England’s 2018 World Cup bid told the BBC he was “disappointed with the timing” of the programme.

The three members alleged to have taken the bribes were paid by International Sport and Leisure (ISL), the leading sports marketing company at the time. The payments date from 1989 to 1999 before the company collapsed two years later.

ISL were granted with exclusive rights to market World Cup tournaments by FIFA with the company receiving millions from some of the world’s biggest brands as well as television broadcasting rights.

A fourth FIFA official was also named in the documentary with it not being the first time that vice-president Jack Warner has been investigated by Panorama. In 2006 the show revealed that Mr Warner had sold tickets for the 2006 World Cup in Germany on the black market.

FIFA ordered Warner to make a $1m payment to charity through his family business to “compensate for the profits it had made through resale of 2006 FIFA World Cup tickets”. Panorama now says it has seen e-mails and an invoice showing Mr Warner was involved in the procurement of $84,000 worth of 2010 World Cup tickets.

IOC to Examine Bribery Allegations

FIFA have since dismissed the allegations, continually referring to the court hearing in Zug, Switzerland in 2008 which failed to convict any FIFA officials of criminal offences.

One of the three men accused of accepting bribes, FIFA Vice-President Issa Hayatou, is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the governing body has referred the matter to its ethics commission.

“The IOC has taken note of the allegations made by BBC Panorama and will ask the programme makers to pass on any evidence they may have to the appropriate authorities. The IOC has a zero tolerance against corruption and will refer the matter to the IOC Ethics Commission,” it said.

FIFA were quick to refute the claims made by the BBC documentary and released a statement claiming that the events had taken place over 10 years ago and that the issue was closed.

FIFA Statement in Full

In relation to recent media reports, FIFA would like to recall the following:

The matters concerning the case “ISL/ISMM” which are referred to date back many years ago and were investigated by the relevant authorities in Switzerland.

In its verdict of 26 June 2008, the Criminal Court of Zug had not convicted any FIFA Officials. It is therefore important to stress again the fact that no FIFA officials were accused of any criminal offence in these proceedings.

Furthermore, it is important to recall that the decision was made on matters which took place prior to the year 2000 and there has been no court conviction against FIFA. The investigation and the case are definitely closed.

FIFA Media department, 30 November 2010

Verizon FiOS has signed an agreement to carry the SEC Network and expects to begin airing it prior to Aug. 28.

“We welcome the SEC Network to FiOS TV and look forward to carrying the studio content and athletic events it will offer, including the season-opening football doubleheader on Aug. 28,” said Terry Denson, Verizon’s vice president for content acquisition and strategy. “The preseason college poll lists eight SEC teams in the top 25; SEC football ratings are head and shoulders above other conferences; and SEC fans are extraordinarily and uniquely passionate about not only those teams but the entire conference as well. This deal with Disney-ESPN reinforces our already strong partnership with them which involves much more than this great new network.”

Sean Breen, Disney and ESPN Media Networks senior vice president, affiliate sales, added: “With the addition of Verizon FiOS, SEC Network is now available on nine of the top 10 multichannel video distributors in the country.   We look forward to serving their customers in time for college football season.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It also includes live viewing rights and additional live and on-demand content scheduled for SEC Network + across other platforms like smartphones, tablets and laptops via WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com. In addition, the deal also includes rights for the FiOS Mobile app, which will be available to FiOS customers in the near future. FiOS customers can already watch over 100 live channels in-home and over 50 live channels on the go on the FiOS Mobile app, for no additional charge, including live sports from the ESPN branded networks.

The first year of the SEC Network programming will consist of more than 1,000 live events, including 45 football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games and 50 softball games. The fall schedule also has 25 soccer and 45 volleyball matches. Programming also will include in-studio shows, daily news and information and original content.

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said, “Today is a good day for Verizon FiOS customers and SEC fans across the country, particularly inTampa and Dallas. We look forward to serving them with an array of live events and programming.”

Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president, college networks, said, “The addition of Verizon FiOS to SEC Network’s distribution footprint is great news for fans nationwide. We have gotten off to a great start since launch, and we look forward to serving more fans with comprehensive coverage of the SEC’s 21 sports.”

Rangers have lost their chief executive Craig Mather after he decided to resign from the post.

An announcement was posted on the London Stock Exchange on Wednesday morning that also confirmed non-executive member Bryan Smart had stood down.

Mr Mather said he is leaving his post with Rangers International Football Club plc with immediate effect “in attempt to help calm speculation” over leadership at Rangers amid a long-running boardroom battle.

The company is now looking for new members of the board to be put up for election at the annual general meeting, ambulance which has been postponed from its intended date of October 24 after opposition shareholders successful took Rangers International to court.

On Monday former oldco director Paul Murray and ex-Rangers International chairman Malcolm Murray were granted an interdict to postpone the meeting after the current board refused their attempt to put themselves and two others – Alex Wilson and Scott Murdoch – up for election to be appointed directors.

Rangers said in the stock exchange statement: “The company announces that, by mutual consent, the chief executive, Craig Mather, has resigned from the company with immediate effect. The company also announces that non-executive director Bryan Smart has resigned from the board with immediate effect. The directors would like to thank both Craig and Bryan for their contributions to the club.

“As a matter of priority, the company, working with its advisers, will now seek to strengthen the board, both to meet the standards required for an AIM company, and to achieve stability through a consensus amongst major shareholders, which can then be considered by all shareholders at the annual general meeting.”

In an announcement on the Rangers website, Mr Mather said he regretted the leadership battles at the club, but claimed he is leaving the company in good shape.

He said: “The interests of the club are of paramount importance and I believe these are best served by me leaving the club.

“Despite recent events and speculation, the facts of the matter are that the club is financially secure and in a far better place than it was a year ago. Unlike most football clubs Rangers has money in the bank, no borrowings and this season we have assembled a squad which is capable of progressing through the leagues.

“My short tenure as chief executive has been beset by incessant attempts to destabilise the operations of the club, all done supposedly in the interests of Rangers. I had real faith in the rebuilding of Rangers and invested significantly in the club. Sadly, those who have been most active in upsetting the very good progress we have been making were not willing to do the same.

“I leave with my head held high and will remain as a shareholder and a supporter of Ally and his team.”

Cardiff City FC have announced today that they have elevated club director Mehmet to Chairman with immediate effect.

Previously Acting Chairman, Simon Lim, will continue in his role of Chief Executive Officer at the club, working with the support of the local management team.

Dalman is an investment banker and spent seven years on the board of Commerzbank and also spent time with Deutsche Bank and Credit Lyonnais.

Following his appointment Club Chairman, Mehmet Dalman, said: “I am honoured to take up the role of Club Chairman at Cardiff City Football Club.

“I have enjoyed my time at the club since joining the Board of Directors in January 2012 and now relish the opportunity to contribute further in my additional role as Chairman with Cardiff City in the Barclays Premier League.”

On the announcement, Cardiff City owner Tan Sri Dr. Vincent Tan said: “Mehmet has had many years of experience in business across the world which he has brought to this great club since becoming a Non-Executive Director in January last year.

“This is more great news for the football club following last week’s amicable resolution with the Langston Corporation in which Mehmet played a big role. I wish him the best of luck in his additional role at Cardiff City.”