Mit Bestürzung und Sorge haben wir die Vorkommnisse beim Relegationsspiel zwischenFortuna Düsseldorf und Hertha BSC Berlin zur Kenntnis genommen. DFB und Ligaverbandsind sich darüber einig, dass solche unverantwortlichen und die Gesundheit der vielenfriedlichen Fans gefährdenden Szenen in einem Fußballstadion nicht tolerierbar sindund konsequent geahndet werden müssen. Die Sportgerichtsbarkeit des DFB ist auchin diesem konkreten Fall dafür zuständig, das angemessene Strafmaß zu finden. DerKontrollausschuss hat die Ermittlungen bereits aufgenommen.

Grundsätzlich ist nach den Übergriffen dieser Saison ein Punkt erreicht, an dem neue Wegegegen Gewalt im Umfeld von Fußballspielen gegangen werden müssen. Die jüngstenAusschreitungen zum Saisonende machen einmal mehr auf traurige Weise deutlich, dassdie bisherigen Konzepte und Maßnahmen allein nicht mehr ausreichen. In den vergangenenMonaten wurde deshalb bereits in der eigens gegründeten Task Force Sicherheit mitVertretern aus Vereinen, Verbänden, Justiz, Polizei und Fanstrukturen ein Katalog erarbeitet,an welchen Stellen in den Bereichen Prävention und Sanktion angesetzt werden kann.

Konkret werden DFB und Ligaverband daran anknüpfend noch vor der kommenden Saisongemeinsam eine Zusammenkunft aller Präsidenten von Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga und 3.Liga einberufen, auf der das weitere Vorgehen besprochen werden soll. Dabei wird es unteranderem darum gehen, einen Verhaltenskodex zu entwickeln, der den Umgang zwischenVereinen und Fans beschreibt. Außerdem sollen im Zusammenspiel mit Polizei und Justizeffektivere Vorgehensweisen gegen Gewalttäter auf den Weg gebracht und abgestimmtwerden.

DFB und Ligaverband werden zusammen mit den Vereinen nicht zulassen, dass der Fußballvon Randalierern und Gewalttätern als Bühne missbraucht wird. Der Fußball wird seineMöglichkeiten im Kampf gegen Gewalt ausschöpfen und vertraut auf die Kompetenz undEntschlossenheit der staatlichen Stellen. Nur im gemeinsamen Schulterschluss zwischenFußball, Politik, Polizei, Justiz und der großen Mehrheit der wahren, friedlichen Fans könnenwir das Problem lösen. Für Gewalt darf im Fußball kein Platz sein.

Pierre Weiss’s retirement has led to Essar Gabriel named as his successor as the new general secretary of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), it has been announced.

The Frenchman is to take over his compatriot Weiss, who is retiring after 20 years working for the world athletics governing body.

Gabriel, 43, was director general of the Organising Committee for the successful 2003 World Championships in·Paris and recently held the post of Director of the Youth Olympic Games for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), overseeing last year’s successful first event in Singapore. 

He was also the chief operating officer of Paris’ unsuccessful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, which were awarded to London.

Weiss, 64, announced his decision to step down several months ago after taking over the post in 2006 following the death of Hungary’s Istvan Gyulai.

Gabriel has been chosen to succeed Weiss by IAAF President Lamine Diack, whose choice has been endorsed by the ruling Council, who are meeting on the eve of the World Championships which open on Saturday August 27.

Diack said: “With a wealth of experience working in the administration of international sporting bodies, I am convinced that he will be capable of bringing us an outside perspective that will enable us to uncompromisingly assess in those areas that we need to improve as we move forwards.”

Former Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan is prepared to join a consortium to take over at relegated Blackburn if current owners Venky’s want to sell.

Venky’s have come under huge pressure from Rovers supporters since taking control of the club in November 2010.

But they say they have no plans to leave Ewood Park despite relegation.

“If they were [prepared to sell], I would be honoured if I could facilitate a transfer,” Khan told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Khan, who stood down as chairman of Accrington and relinquished his shares in the League Two club earlier this month, has held meetings with willing investors and joined forces with local businessmen Ian Battersby and Ian Currie, who run corporate finance and capital-raising company Seneca Partners.

Khan added: “I respect the fact Venky’s are the current owners, but at some point during the close season, I think it will become clearer whether their long-term intentions are to stay where they are,” he said.

“I read the statement they put out last week that the family is in love with the club and want to see it through.

“If that is their intention, there is no time to be spent on this endeavour.

“If they were to decide that it’s time for them to move on to a different business venture, I think our consortium is the only one that could turn this into a success for the town.”

Blackburn have been relegated from the Premier League and face an uncertain future in the Championship

Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket have appointmented Ralph Waters as Deputy Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, to be hosted in New Zealand and Australia.

Waters is the Chairman of Fletcher Building Limited, a Director of Woolworths Limited, Fonterra Co-Operative Limited and Westpac New Zealand Limited and until earlier this year, was Chairman of Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited. Previously, Mr Waters was Chief Executive of the Sydney based Email Limited and then Chief Executive of the Auckland based Fletcher Building.

James Strong, who was announced last week as Chairman, and his Deputy Mr Waters, will lead the Board overseeing the delivery of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, including the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer.

The Committee Deputy Chairman’s appointment was made following an extensive executive search process conducted on behalf of New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia.

Commenting on his appointment, Waters said: “As a cricket tragic, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the organisation of the next World Cup. I played years of low level cricket around Australia and for four years in London too. I have travelled the world to watch the Australian team play. Being involved with cricket – and for the two countries where I now share my time – will be a privilege.”

Manchester United’s poor showings in the Champions League and the FA Cup was saved by the news that they received £3.5 million in increased sponsorship.

United were finalists in the Champions League in 2008, 2009 and 2011 but surprisingly failed to emerge from the group stage in this season’s competition.

In the FA Cup, having seen off Manchester City, they were defeated by Liverpool in the fourth round.In the three-month period leading up to March 31 in 2011 the club had made £75.2m but the latest quarterly results for the same period in 2012 show a drop of £4.4 million. A 9.9% wage increase compared to last year also contributed to the dip.

However, a £3.5m sponsorship increase helped to cushion the blow and United remain on course for an impressive revenue increase over the season as a whole, with revenues over the nine-month period standing at £245.8m as compared to last year’s £231.6m.

“This increase largely relates to growth in player remuneration, driven by new player acquisitions and further contractual negotiations together with increased costs and headcount arising from the continued growth in our sponsorship and commercial operations,” United’s quarterly financial report read.

“Media income has been impacted by our exit from the UCL, thus no Round of 16 match played and our subsequent participation in the UEL [Europa League], for which, despite one extra game, the income per game is lower than for the UCL.

“In addition, we earned lower revenues for the FA Cup in 2011/12 due to our fourth-round exit, compared with reaching the semi-final in 2010/11.”

United’s quarterly results show that revenues dropped in the three months ending March 31 by £4.4million from 2011, £70.8m compared to £75.2m.

Queens Park Rangers have named Philip Beard their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after Malaysian business tycoon, Tony Fernandes took over the Premiership club.

Beard has been involved in three highly successful international businesses; a founding partner of Air Miles International, a senior member of the successful London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid team in 2005, and CEO of The O2 where he led a team to re-launch the Millennium Dome as a world-leading entertainment destination. 

Under his leadership The O2 was transformed from white elephant to the world’s number one music arena. 

Since leaving The O2 two years ago, Beard has set up his own consultancy business advising leading sports clubs, sports bodies and associations on commercial and business strategy.

Beard’s move comes after Fernandes secured a 66% stake in QPR, buying out previous majority shareholders Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone.

Fernandes will work alongside the Mittal Family, who have retained their 33% stake.

The 47-year old said: ‘QPR is a raw diamond and hopefully I can contribute into turning it into a diamond’.

‘Everyone knows I’ve followed West Ham all my life but I’ve always had a soft spot for QPR. Rangers were one of the first teams I watched as a child at Loftus Road’.

He will take the role of chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd and will be joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Mr Kamarudin Bin Meranun, one of Malaysia’s most successful business entrepreneurs.

Glasgow Rangers have lost their appeal to eradicate their 12-month transfer embargo and £160, apoplectic 000 in fines imposed on the Ibrox club by an SFA Judicial Panel for a series of disciplinary rule breaches under Craig Whyte’s ownership.

A three-man Appellate Tribunal, order chaired by Supreme Court judge Lord Carloway, announced their decision just before 11pm last night to uphold the original decision, despite the legal argument put forward on behalf of Rangers by leading QC Richard Keen.On 23 April, Rangers were found guilty of five disciplinary charges brought against them as a result of Lord William Nimmo Smith’s independent inquiry into events at the club since Whyte took control in May last year.

These included bringing the game into disrepute in the period which saw Whyte withhold PAYE and VAT payments due from the club.The SFA subsequently published a lengthy document detailing the reasons for the sanctions in which it was stated only match fixing would have been regarded as a more serious offence.

It also revealed the Judicial Panel had considered terminating Rangers’ membership of the SFA.Lord Carloway, assisted by Spartans chairman Craig Graham and former Partick Thistle chairman Allan Cowan, concluded that the punishment was “proportionate to the breach, dissuasive to other and effective in the context of serious misconduct.

”They added that the decision to prevent Rangers signing any players next season does not affect the club’s ability to extend the existing contracts of players, noting that there are currently over 40 professionals on their books.Rangers, who employed leading advocate Keen with money raised by supporters for the club’s Fighting Fund since they went into administration in February, had contested that Whyte’s actions should be treated separately to those of the club.

But the Appellate Tribunal ruled that the original decision was competent as the “conduct involved was attributable to the club as a member of the SFA”.

The decision is another significant blow for Rangers and new owner Charles Green as they look to emerge from administration through a CVA.

Manchester City’s have secured a record income of £60.6million from Premier League broadcast payments for last season but even bottom club Wolves earned £39million.

The figures highlight the money available to clubs in the richest league in the world – and the fact that compared to many other leagues the split of the cash is not skewed massively towards the top sides. Half the domestic TV cash and all the overseas rights income are split equally between the 20 clubs.

“The Premier League’s income distribution mechanism rewards sporting success in the League while also guaranteeing a significant amount of broadcast revenue to each club in order that they can plan from one season to the next,” Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said.

“It has been a fantastic season, arguably the best of all the 20 Premier League seasons, and the clubs deserve huge credit for the quality of football on show throughout 2011-12.

“We believe the way we distribute broadcast income plays a part in allowing each club to compete at the highest level.”

Each club received an equal share of £13.7m from domestic TV money, £18.7m from overseas broadcast rights, plus £755,000 for each place they finished in the final league table – that was the sum received by bottom Wolves while champions Manchester City earned £15.1m.

On top of that, each club receives around £570,000 for each time they are featured in live TV matches – at least £5.7million but in Manchester United’s case £13.5m after taking part in 26 live TV games.

That explains why Tottenham finished below Arsenal in the league table but earned more – £57.3m compared to £56.2m – because they played in 23 live TV games, compared to the Gunners’ 19.