Newcastle politicians have taken a stand against the renaming of St James Park by urging the media not to call Newcastle United’s stadium the Sports Direct Arena.

Mike Ashley, Newcatle United owner was told he would receive no support from Newcastle City Council for his decision to rename St James’ Park.

The council has written to news organisations asking for their support after Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors united to pass a motion opposing the decision after the name change was announced in November.

They called on the sportswear tycoon to reconsider, and refused to change street signs in the city from St James’ Park to Sports Direct Arena.

The motion, passed at a meeting of the full council, also committed city officers to write to media organisations asking for their support.

The letter said: “The motion requests that the city council write to the media and asks that they continue to use the name of St James’ Park in all reporting and refuse to use the name Sports Direct Arena. We respectfully request that you take this approach.

“For its part, the city council has taken the decision not to change any wayfinding signs which bear the name St James’ Park, and calls on the club to reconsider their decision.

“We would ask that you acknowledge the strength of opposition among Newcastle fans against changing the name of the stadium and continue to call it St James’ Park in all reporting.”

Newcastle United refused to comment.

St James’ Park has been the home of Newcastle since 1892. The stadium will be called the Sports Direct Arena until a new global sponsor can be found, in a move club bosses say will bring money to the club. Derek Llambias, the club’s managing director, said it could generate up to £10 million ($15.5m) a year.

SingTel today announced that it has secured the broadcast rights to all 380 Barclays Premier League (BPL) matches in Singapore for the next three seasons starting in August 2013.

These rights were acquired on a non-exclusive basis, meaning that Singtel is not obliged to share the content with their competitors. 

Mr Allen Lew, Country Chief Officer Singapore and CEO Group Digital L!fe, SingTel said: “We are delighted to bring all the BPL matches LIVE to Singapore for another three seasons.

“Along with our recent acquisition of the rights to the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FA Cup, Serie A, Ligue 1 and other prominent football tournaments, fans can be assured of SingTel’s strong commitment to deliver the most comprehensive football experience on mio TV, the home of football.”

The matches will continue to be available online on miostadium.com and on mobile via SingTel’s BPL application.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: “mio Stadium has provided Singapore fans with great local programming and coverage of the Barclays Premier League action in a comprehensive and innovative manner. We are pleased to be continuing our partnership with SingTel for another three seasons.”

Bayern Munich has urged UEFA to introduce tough sanctions for clubs who violate new rules on spending.

CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said it would be “a total disaster” if European soccer’s governing body fails to act.

“It’s now time to finalize everything because clubs have to know what is happening in case they break the rules and that is very important.

“The rules can’t be on a very low level because then you have nothing.”

Rummenigge, anabolics who also chairs the European Club Association, illness called for Platini to remind clubs of their fiscal responsibilities.

“He, as a president and coming from France, maybe should remind certain clubs that the rules are running since July 1”.

President Uli Hoeness has also had his say on Europe’s big spenders.

He mocked Inter Milan’s Champions League final defeat of Bayern Munich in 2010 in light of the Italian club’s 69 million-euro ($89 million) loss the same year.

“I would not be happy if I win a Champions League like that. If I win a Champions League, I want to be in profit.”

He also poured scorn on City’s purchase of Serio Aguero and claimed the club were offered the player for 15 million euros ($19 million) during Felix Magath’s tenure four seasons ago. Aguero joined City for £38 million ($59 million) in July 2011.

“Those are prices we would normally never do”.

His most stinging attack was directed towards Manchester United’s owners.

“Before Mr. Glazer bought Manchester United, he didn’t know there was air in the ball.

“That’s not something that I accept. His target is making money. I would accept Mr. Glazer immediately if he says ‘OK, the price of Manchester United is 800 million pounds ($1.2 billion). That’s my money, my risk and now we are working.’

“But what did he do? He bought the club and said ‘OK, I don’t have the money, how can we finance it?’ That’s something that I never accept”/

Hoeness also made a dig at wealthy benefactors, like Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and Sheikh Mansour Manchester City, before saying that he would rather a benefactor than a Glazer.

“In this moment, will he [the wealthy owner] one day say now I go on my ships and I buy pictures and so on? But if you say which option [Glazers or benefactor], you want to have I would say I take the guy from Abu Dhabi.”

A spokesman for Manchester United, Philip Townsend, issued this retort.

“Hoeness has a right to an opinion, but results over the last seven years speak for themselves and Manchester United is in a healthy position, both on and off the pitch.

“The Glazer family have been integral in boosting the club’s revenues, which have seen United become world leaders in the breadth and depth of our commercial partnerships”.

beIN SPORT, the new independent 24-hour global network dedicated to live and exclusive coverage of the world’s best international sports, today announced that Liberty Cablevision of Puerto Rico will offer the network to sports fans.

Liberty Cablevision’s customers will now see beIN SPORT’s exclusive coverage of all the top soccer leagues and tournaments from Europe and South America, including games from Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A, France’s Ligue 1, South American World Cup Qualifiers and Copa America 2015. The network will also carry the away games for the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team in the qualifying rounds of the 2014 World Cup.

beIN SPORT’s English and Spanish networks will be available as part of Liberty’s basic service package on standard definition channels 94 and 95, respectively. The networks will also be part of the cable provider’s premium HD package on channels 224 and 225. In addition to its linear TV networks, select beIN SPORT content will be available on demand via Liberty Cablevision’s website.

“beIN SPORT is a new, unprecedented sports network that guarantees first row access to the electrifying stars and unmatched play of international competition with games that can’t be seen on any other channel,” said Yousef Al Obaidly, managing director of beIN SPORT. “Our original and exclusive programming is designed to let viewers ‘be in’ the game and feel they are part of the international sports community. Once they experience our network, we know Puerto Rican sports fans won’t want to miss a minute of their favorite teams and players.”

David Beckham is considering buying an MLS team after his new two-year contract with the LA Galaxy ends.

Beckham revealed he is weighing up the option at a press conference announcing his extended stay in the USA. “I have the option of owning a franchise, remedy and that excites me”.

The Englishman’s original five-year deal at the LA club included the option to buy a franchise on retirement. The realisation of this was said to be a key element in the latest round of contract talks.

The CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, symptoms the LA-based company which owns the Galaxy, Tim Leiweke stated, “He made it very clear to us we have to sort this through, that he’s going to exercise his option to be an owner in Major League Soccer.

“We have a commitment to help him when that time comes and my guess is that, unless that’s part of the Galaxy, we’re going to be competing with him on and off the pitch”.

Leiweke revealed that the relevant processes to allow Beckham to realise this ambition are now in place.

“The partners in the league have structured that option in a way that will allow David to become a partner in the league, to become an owner in the league at some point in the near future and operate and run his own franchise, and we’re going to encourage that.

“Unless I’m mistaken, that’s his future once he does make a decision to retire.”

Since Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 and promised to promote the game in the USA, the number of MLS teams has increased to 19 from 12 and, according to the new MLS Champions, the sum to buy into the league through an expansion club is estimated to have quadrupled to $40 million.

Beckham’s net worth was approximated at $291 million in The Sunday Times in May 2010. Forbes estimated the Former England captain’s income in 2010 alone was $40 million.

Euroleague Basketball and Marca have announced that the Spanish sports media group will become an official Turkish Airlines Euroleague broadcaster for the upcoming 2012-13 season. 

Marca TV channel started in 2010 as part of one of the biggest media groups in Spain, anabolics Unidad Editorial, sale and during the last three years, shop has increased its coverage of sports like football and boxing with progressive audience growth. The Marca group, which includes, Marca Tv, Marca (print) www.marca.com and Radio Marca, are the most popular specialized sporting media outlet in Spain, with an audience of over 10 million per day (including print, tv, online, radio and social media). 

Starting this season, Marca TV will have the rights to broadcast live all Unicaja Malaga games in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague in addition to other games throughout the season, with simulcast on www.marca.com. Those additional games start during this week with the CSKA Moscow vs. Lietuvos Rytas on Thursday, October 11 at 18:00 CET, Besiktas JK Istanbul vs. Partizan mt:s Belgrade on Friday, October 12 at 19:00 CET and Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos Athens, also on Friday at 21:30 CET. 

The opening game of Real Madrid is being offered by Marca TV to all Spanish fans as a special exception to celebrate the new agreement. The whites, eight-time Euroleague champions, will face the Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens, six-time Euroleague champions, in an exciting and attractive duel. Besides broadcasting games, Marca will also give great importance to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague in all its news editions and launch a special Euroleague Basketball programming to give all basketball fans the greatest coverage possible of the competition across its platforms.

West Bromich Albion FC have announced a profit of £9million ($14m) for the financial year ending June 30, 2011, the club have confirmed.

The Baggies have also been able to reduce their net debt from £10million ($15.4m) to just £2million ($3m).

The financial success followed a successful first season back in the Barclays Premier League.

West Brom avoided instant relegation back to the Championship for only the second time after head coach Roy Hodgson revived their fortunes when replacing Roberto Di Matteo in February.

Albion’s made money back on transfer in the department of £3million.

They spent £5.2million on new signings while receiving £8.2million back from players sold.

However the latest figures have not taken into account that, since the end of the financial year, the commitment in terms of fulfilling players’ contracts has risen from £37million to £48million.

The baggies will hold their annual general meeting at the club’s new London office on February 9.

Eurosport has secured a three-year deal to become the exclusive European media partner of the new ATP Power Horse Cup from 2013 to 2015. 

Eurosport will broadcast extensive LIVE HD coverage on Eurosport and Eurosport 2 channels across 59 countries. The deal includes digital rights for all matches and Eurosport will also become the host broadcaster of the tournament. It will be the first time Eurosport is host broadcaster for an ATP event. 

Formerly known as the Power Horse World Team Cup, the Düsseldorf outdoor clay court tournament is adopting a new format from 2013 by joining the ATP World Tour 250 series. 

Held the week before the French Open the tournament is an appropriate addition to Eurosport’s tennis portfolio which includes LIVE coverage of the Roland Garros Grand Slam in Paris. 

This exclusive partnership was signed with tournament director Dietloff von Arnim, who said: “We are delighted to continue with the strong tradition of ATP tournaments in Düsseldorf and welcome the arrival of an ATP 250 tournament at Rochusclub. With this new tournament status comes a new name and we are very pleased to retain Power Horse as our title sponsor. We are happy and proud to have Eurosport as our host broadcaster for a minimum of the next three years. Our new partnership promises excellent coverage for all tennis fans and sponsors, not only in Germany, but also in all European territories.” 

Géraldine Filiol, Eurosport Deputy Managing Director in charge of acquisitions, said: “We are delighted to become the European media partner of the Power Horse Cup, especially at such an important moment in the life of the tournament. We will help the new ATP 250 tournament develop by providing extensive coverage to all fans in Europe on our channels Eurosport and Eurosport 2 as well as on internet and mobile through the Eurosport Player.”

Chelsea FC today have adamantly denied claims they tried to fix the vote to buy back the freehold of Stamford Bridge.

English tabloid newspaper, The Sun, reported today that people associated with owner Roman Abramovich and club directors bought a number of Chelsea Pitch Owner (CPO) shares ahead of a ballot last October to decide whether the club could purchase the land from the company.

CPO was set up in 1993 to protect the club from being forced out of the stadium they have played at since their formation in 1905.

A total of 2,517 shares were bought between October 3 and the suspension of trading on October 20, of which 1,686 shouldn’t have been re-issued because of a restriction agreed by CPO directors a year before.

There are allegations that a lot of the shares were bought by people who had strong connections with the boardroom in order to secure the 75 per cent share of the vote they required.

If someone purchased 100 shares (at a £100 each) it would secure 100 votes but in the end only 61.5 per cent were in favour and CPO maintained the freehold for now.

Today’s report suggests Chelsea tried to use underhand methods to ensure the motion was passed.

However, a club spokesman said: “As we have previously stated, when approached by people asking how they can help, we responded that they should vote in favour of the motion if they have shares, or buy shares and vote in favour of the motion. We categorically deny any allegations of wrongdoing against the club or anyone connected to the club.”

The mass buying of shares was actually pursued by both sides and a fans’ organisation was set up called SAYNOCPO to lobby support against the club’s plans.

There have been suggestions that Chelsea, who have yet to decide to leave Stamford Bridge, are looking to sell the site and build a cheaper venue elsewhere in order for Abramovich to make a significant profit due to the value of real estate in SW6.

But it is believed all funds from the sale of the ground would go into the development of a new ground and the club expect there to be a shortfall, which Abramovich or a loan from a bank would have to make up.

CPO will be holding their Annual General Meeting at Stamford Bridge tomorrow when a motion to begin the re-selling of shares is on the agenda.

Some fans feel it could pave the way for more individuals close to the boardroom to buy shares so that any future vote regarding the freehold will go in Chelsea’s favour next time.

As yet there has been no date set for a second ballot on the issue, but sources at SAYNOCPO, who campaigned strongly against the club’s proposal back in October, fear they could hold another one during the off-season when it will be harder to alert fans who own shares to the issue.

In a statement today SAYNOCPO said: “The (Sun) article would appear to vindicate our long-standing position on this issue regarding organised gerrymandering of the vote. We feel the sale of shares in CPO should remain suspended until discussions have taken place to prevent such practices being repeated in future.

“We have previously suggested this issue can be solved by only re-opening share sales via a new class of share, with a maximum of 1 (or 10) voting rights per person, with proof of identity and UK address requirement, and we would urge the board of CPO to adopt this measure.”

Modern Times Group (MTG) has acquired shares in Danish sports channel TV2 Sport, asthma taking full control of the channel.

TV2 Sport was launched in April 2007 as a 50/50 joint-venture between MTG and TV2, stomach and consists of TV2 Sport, TV2 Sport HD and TV2 Sport Premier League, which is dedicated to coverage of English football.

MTG has now acquired the outstanding 50% of the business, with payment consisting of an undisclosed cash sum and the transfer of exclusive Danish broadcasting rights to the European Handball Championships in 2016 and 2018.

The deal is subject to approval from the Daanish competition regulator. TV2 Sport reported revenues of DKK348m (US$60.6m) for 2011, with an operating profit of DKK17m.