The Donegal GAA is facing a fine over a levy imposed on its All-Ireland Senior Championship final tickets.

Reports say supporters will have to pay an extra €5 ($6.5) on their ticket price.

The county has just under 15, herbal 000 tickets for the game against Mayo at Croke Park on Sunday.

It says the levy is to help pay for training facilities for the squad in the build-up to the game.

The Irish Independent says GAA director general Paraic Duffy issued a strong warning to all counties against placing a levy on match tickets.

He insists that counties were made well aware that any such move was against Croke Park rules.

80,000 fans are expected to pack the stadium.

The final is also expected to be seen by more people than ever before.

In Britain, the subscription channel Premier Sports on Sky Channel 428 will be showing live coverage of the final. Premium Sports is also providing live coverage of the final in the US, through their Setanta-i player or viaUstream.tv. The channel is also broadcasting live coverage into bars and social venues.

In Australia, Setanta Sports is available on multiple platforms including Foxtel and Austar. The final is also available on Setanta-i, an online player that provides live coverage. Setanta Africa is also planning to provide live access to the final to many countries in sub Saharan Africa. Setanta Sports will be broadcasting the final in Asia

With the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) yet to be signed for the National Hockey League (NHL) before the Sept. 15 deadline, it seems that the NHL players are making back-up plans to play in  four exhibition games featuring NHL players against all-stars from the Russian KHL.

The Sportsnet report said NHLPA head Donald Fehr met with the head of the KHL while in Moscow last week. The NHLPA would not comment on the reports of plans for games in Moscow, Halifax, Quebec City and a “southern Ontario,” arena. The KHL is already sending two teams — Dynamo Moscow and SKA St. Petersburg — to the States to play regular season games at Barclays Center in January.

Fehr was there to brief European-based players on the progress of negotiations with the league toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

He did not have much progress to report.

The NHL’s initial proposal, presented on July 13, asked for significant salary givebacks, a reduction in the revenues that are shared and less flexibility on player contracts.

Thursday, the day of Fehr’s return to the negotiating table, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman made it clear the owners are prepared to lock out the players if an agreement is not reached by Sept.15, the day the current CBA expires.

The union is scheduled to present it’s counter offer to the league Tuesday, when the negotiations resume at the union’s offices in Toronto.

While both sides publicly said they were “optimistic,” a deal can get done by Sept. 15, they admit there is a big gap on the economic issues.

A lockout would be the third work-stoppage in the NHL in 18 years. In the last lockout, which cost the NHL the entire 2004-05 season, the NHLPA helped players find teams spots to play in Europe and Russia. During the 1994 lockout, a team organized by Wayne Gretzky played exhibition games in Europe.

English league club Leeds United has won its High Court action against West Yorkshire Police over who should pay for policing on match days. 

The Championship side had argued that it was wrong for the force to charge it for policing streets and car parks near its Elland Road ground, saying that this fell within the scope of normal police obligations to maintain public order.

Mr Justice Eady ruled the club should not pay for policing the wider area.

Michael Beloff QC, had told Mr Justice Eady the club was content to pay for services within the stadium and on land owned or controlled by it, but policing on land not owned or controlled by the club did not constitute special police services.

“West Yorkshire Police’s insistence on charging Leeds United Football Club for such policing is illegal,” he said.

He added that the action was “in the nature of a test case” and the footballing and policing worlds hoped the ruling would provide “powerful guidance” on the issue.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that Garnier Ambre Solaire has become a licensee of London 2012.

Garnier Ambre Solaire will produce two of its best-selling Ambre Solaire formulation sun creams – Ultra-Moisturising SPF30 lotion and Clear Protect +SPF30 spray – in official Team GB packaging. Both products will help to ensure that spectators enjoying the Games this summer will be protected against UVA and UVB damage.

LOCOG Commercial Director, Chris Townsend said of the appointment, said:”‘I am delighted to welcome Garnier Ambre Solaire as the latest addition to the London 2012 merchandise programme. They join a fantastic team of licensees, 90% of whom are British, who are creating, distributing and selling a fantastic range of merchandise for people to celebrate the London 2012 Games.”

It is estimated that the London 2012 merchandise programme will generate more than £1 billion worth of sales, contributing more than £80m to the staging of the Games. By Games time an estimated 10,000 merchandise items will be on sale in the UK.

Joe Torre, Major League Baseball’s executive vice president for baseball operations, has resigned in order to join a group trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Torre managed the Dodgers from 2008-10, then retired and was hired by MLB last February as a top aide to Commissioner Bud Selig. He is now part of a group headed by real estate developer Rick Caruso who are looking to buy the Dodgers.

“In Rick I found a partner who understands consumers and fully appreciates that the Dodgers are a treasured LA institution,” Torre said in a statement. “Since moving to Los Angeles, I have seen firsthand Rick’s dedication to business and the people of Los Angeles.’

The Dodgers were put up for sale by owner Frank McCourt in November, five months after the team filed for bankruptcy. Following months of bickering and accusations of mismanagement, an agreement between McCourt and MLB said the team is to be sold by April 30, which coincides with the deadline for McCourt to pay former wife Jamie a $131 million divorce settlement.

Initial bids for the team are due by Jan. 23 with the Blackstone Group, Frank McCourt’s investment banker. The price likely will break the record for a baseball franchise, topping the $845 million paid by the Ricketts family for the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

“Joe has a proven track record of fielding winning teams and I am looking forward to our group benefiting from his unique experience,” Caruso said in a statement. “I am a lifelong Angeleno; I love this city and have dedicated my career to creating world-class destinations that support this community and foster great customer experiences. Joe and I believe in the Dodgers and Dodger fans and know that together we will foster a winning culture.”

He is president of Caruso Affiliated, which developed The Grove, a 20-acre retail, dining and entertainment site adjacent to the Farmers Market in Los Angeles. Former Goldman Sachs vice chairman Byron Trott is the group’s banker and O’Melveny & Myers is its law firm.

Torre, the 1971 National League MVP, was a nine-time All-Star during a playing career from 1960-77, then managed the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals. After working as a broadcaster for the Angels, he managed the New York Yankees from 1996-07 and guided them to four World Series titles.

With MLB, the 71-year-old Torre delegated much of the day-to-day work to three senior vice presidents he appointed in March: former Arizona GM Joe Garagiola Jr., former Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng and former Arizona assistant GM Peter Woodfork.

“Joe has been an invaluable resource for me and all of us at Major League Baseball this year,” Selig said in a statement. “I understand his desire to pursue an opportunity in Los Angeles. Joe has been a lifelong friend and I know that will continue in the future.”

Epson has signed a global sponsorship agreement to become Official Office Equipment Partner to Manchester United, one of the world’s most famous soccer clubs.

The agreement, worth a reported £3 million (US $4.7m)  which starts immediately, sees Epson, one of the leading manufacturers of printers, projectors and scanners worldwide, supply Manchester United with its equipment throughout Old Trafford. The deal will see Epson align its brand with the world-class club and raise its profile in Europe and globally where the club is followed.

The partnership is launched at Old Trafford today, ahead of Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson, chief executive David Gill and the entire first team squad in attendance.

Speaking at the launch event Epson’s Global President, Mr Minoru Usui, said: “The partnership with Manchester United aligns Epson with an exciting and globally recognised brand, bringing us closer to our customers worldwide. Leading the way through constant creativity and innovation both brands share a commitment to achieving the highest standards. Our vision to excite and inspire customers is represented by Manchester United’s success on the pitch and the unique printer and projector technologies for which Epson is renowned.”

Manchester United’s chief executive David Gill said: “We are obviously delighted to have Epson as one of our commercial partners with immediate effect and are looking forward to developing an exciting communications programme that helps us both achieve our business goals. Epson is a superb global brand, that sits perfectly alongside our existing partners.”

The agreement will be announced to fans at half time during the game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday 27 November.

healing helvetica,sans-serif;”>Snooker’s governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has introduced a hotline so that professional snooker players can report incidents of match fixing.

The players will attend a meeting in Germany where the European Tour Championship is taking place. The meeting will inform players how they can report any suspicious activity or approaches in relation to match fixing.

The initiative will be introduced after the three times World Champion John Higgins found himself embroiled in a match fixing allegation.

Speaking at a press conference the WPSBA disciplinary chief David Douglas said, “It is a hotline and email service for the players that is anonymous or otherwise.”

“The players can use it to report suspicious activities or to inquire about information about the rules and regulations,” added Douglas.

The disciplinary chief believes that the new measures will help tackle corruption within the sport and encourage players not to get involved in illegal dealings.

“It is a case of the WPBSA being pro-active and making sure we are not arrogant to think that corruption is not a part, or could not be a part, of the sport,” said Douglas.

The WPSBA integrity unit will also monitor and pool information into a data base which they will share with legal betting organisations. The snooker governing body hopes that this will allow the betting industry and the WPSBA to notice any unusual betting practices.

Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes and NFL’s San Francisco 49ers have entered into an unprecedented partnership to promote the South Bay as a regular host of top-tier soccer events over the next five years.

While the new 68,500-seat Levi’s Stadium is set to open this August, the Earthquakes are on track to begin play in their own 18,000-seat soccer-specific stadium in 2015.

The concurrent construction of these state-of-the-art neighboring venues spurred the launch of this multi-year collaboration between the Earthquakes and 49ers. When the new Earthquakes Stadium opens in 2015, the South Bay will feature two brand new stadiums with natural grass playing surfaces less than five miles apart, something no other region in the country will be able to offer.

“We are thrilled to partner with the 49ers,” said Earthquakes President Dave Kaval. “The 49ers share our vision and commitment to bringing the best possible teams from around the world to the South Bay. With two first-class stadiums just miles apart, this is the perfect spot to host international soccer games.”

In October 2013, the Earthquakes partnered with the 49ers and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority to announce that the first event ever at Levi’s Stadium would be its match against Seattle Sounders FC on August 2. As part of the new venture, the two organizations will collaborate on bids to bring international soccer events to both stadiums and promote the greater area as an ideal training venue for international teams to prepare for key competitions and tournaments.

“This partnership is an exciting opportunity to work alongside the Earthquakes to bring premier soccer events to the Bay Area,” said 49ers President Paraag Marathe. “The region has a great deal to offer the international soccer community, most notably two beautiful, new facilities that will showcase the sport brilliantly. We look forward to offering sports fans a diverse collection of high caliber events at Levi’s Stadium.”

Levi’s Stadium and the new Earthquakes Stadium will add to the existing infrastructure of the greater area that includes luxury hotels, world-class universities and training facilities, along with the hospitable weather that helped attract the United States Men’s National Team to hold its recently completed training camp for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Palo Alto at Stanford University.

“The City of Santa Clara is excited to be able to host these top-tier games at two incredible new venues in our own backyard,” said Santa Clara Mayor Jamie Matthews. “It’s also an exciting opportunity for the entire Bay Area, given the huge popularity of the sport.”

“The new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and the new Earthquakes stadium in San Jose will be state-of-the-art venues for regional, national and international sports and entertainment events,” said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. “Silicon Valley has a proud history of hosting major sporting events and a diverse population full of enthusiastic sports fans from around the world. We look forward to hosting a wide variety of premier events in the years ahead.”