It has been confirmed that Major League Baseball (MLB) is to assume control of the Los Angeles Dodgers due to “deep concerns” about the financial predicament of the famous franchise, according to the league’s commissioner Bud Selig.

Selig revealed that a MLB representative would oversee the “day-to-day operations” at the troubled outfit, which has been plunged into financial turmoil by the complicated – and unresolved – divorce of its owners, Frank and Jamie McCourt.

The very public domestic disagreement between the couple began when Frank McCourt fired his wife, Jamie, from her role as the team’s chief executive. She the filed for divorce a week later, after 30 years of marriage in October 2009.

The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this week that Frank McCourt had arranged for a US$30m loan from Fox, the team’s television partner, to cover the Dodgers’ payroll requirements. Despite its recent problems, the franchise is one of the most successful in the history of baseball.

A statement from Selig read: “Pursuant to my authority as commissioner, I informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today that I will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the club. I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball.”

Selig added that he would carry out a “thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr McCourt’s ownership”, adding that the representative to take control of the franchise would be announced in the coming days.

“The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future,” said Selig.

Scottish soccer club, Dundee FC have been hit with a 25-point penalty after entering administration for the second time in seven years. The punishment leaves the former European Cup semi-finalists adrift at the bottom of Scotland’s First Division with minus 11 points.

The club were also given a transfer embargo and told that their future would be reconsidered on 31 March if they were still in administration.

In a statement the Scottish Football League said it regretted the situation Dundee are in but added it had acted to protect the “integrity” of the league. “We are of the opinion that lessons are not being learned,” the statement said. “For example, clubs have to realise that, going forward, they cannot treat their [tax] obligations as something akin to a credit card.”

Dundee, who last month laid off their manager Gordon Chisholm and nine players, have debts of around £3.21m (US $5.1m), according to the administrator, Bryan Jackson, who described the punishment as “outrageous” and said he would appeal the decision.

National Hockey League (NHL) team Calgary Flames have signed signed a three-year deal with home-improvement retailer Rona, it has been announced.

The partnership will include the renovation of community youth facilities as well as including permanent, camera-visible, Rona branding at home team games.

Rona president and CEO Robert Dutton said: “We know that having opportunities for children to experience the pleasures of childhood sports and activities provide tremendous advantages in life.”

Flames president and CEO Ken King added: “Financial investment is important, but it’s secondary to having the right kind of partner, the kind of people that share the values that we have and the kind of people that want to do good in the community.”

There are also suggestions Rona could take up the naming rights of the Flame’s home stadium the Saddledome too, but King said: “That’s probably not in the cards immediately. But anything’s possible in the long-term future.”

The 2014 Women’s World Squash Championship will take place in Egypt in December following an agreement reached this week between the Women’s Squash Association and Wadi Degla Holding. 

Offering a USD $150,000 prize-fund, the 2014 championship will be hosted by the Wadi Degla club in Cairo from 15-20 December, following three days’ of qualifying.

The 30th edition of the premier tournament on the WSA World Tour will be staged in Egypt for only the second time since the inaugural event in 1979.

“Wadi Degla is pleased to host the world’s most prestigious women’s squash event,” said the company’s Sports DirectorKarim Darwish, the world No10 and a former world number one. “Credit goes to Eng Maged Samy, who encouraged and fully supported the idea, despite the very short notice.

“Wadi Degla squash team is the national champion for the season 2013/2014, and the home club of local star Raneem El Welily, the world No3. So squash is definitely a major sport in the Wadi Degla sports community, and hosting this event will surely give Egyptian Squash a great push towards a whole new level.”

WSA CEO Tommy Berden added: “We are delighted to take the Women’s World Championship to Egypt in December. Squash is one of the most popular sports in Egypt and there a lot of young Egyptian players coming up rapidly, so it will be great to see them in action on home soil.

“We are very grateful to Wadi Degla’s chairman Maged Samy and the sports director Karim Darwish for making this event happen at their impressive facilities, and we look forward to working with them to make the championship a stunning success.”

The Women’s World Championship title is owned by the World Squash Federation (WSF) and managed by the Women’s Squash Association.

FIFA has launched a global TV advertising campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to highlight global football development and highlight the fight against discrimination and match manipulation.

The animated TV campaign, called Elements, features 30-second and 15-second spots and will be beamed to audiences across the world by FIFA’s Media Rights Licensees during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

FIFA’s Media Rights Licensees allow FIFA to show institutional and social campaign spots as part of their agreements to broadcast matches from the FIFA World Cup, and to support FIFA’s development work and football across the globe. This gives FIFA access to a potential viewing audience of billions of football fans during our flagship competition.

“This huge platform gives FIFA an amazing opportunity to speak to a global audience,” said FIFA Director of Communications & Public Affairs Walter De Gregorio. “And we wanted to use this platform in the right way – to tell the world there can be no place for discrimination of any kind in football, or in society, and to raise awareness around the threat of match manipulation.”

“We also felt it was crucial to let more people know about our work in football development, which is where so much of the proceeds from the FIFA World Cup go to. Few people know that FIFA invests more than half a million dollars every day in developing football everywhere, from the grassroots up.”

London-based agency Klein & Sons produced the Elements campaign, working with specialist Dutch animator Rogier Wieland.

European football governing body UEFA has appointed VERO Communications to help develop and support its international communications activities.

Working closely with UEFA President’s Chief of Press, herbal  Pedro Pinto, VERO will provide strategic communications support on a range of key issues and the promotion of major milestones in the European football calendar.

Pedro Pinto, UEFA President’s Chief of Press, said: “On behalf of European football UEFA is implementing important new initiatives such as Financial Fair Play and is further promoting our national team and club competitions. We therefore welcome the support of VERO to help us strengthen our communications in these areas.”

Mike Lee, VERO Chairman, said: “With an evolving European football landscape, UEFA is playing a key role in shaping the future and we are delighted to be joining the team to help develop and deliver effective communications to stakeholders and the international media.”

Bristol City have become the first English club to install ‘safe standing’ rail seats at Ashton Gate.

The League One club is aiming to redevelop its historic home, starting this summer, and wants to include the rail seating in two stands, subject to the relevant legal hurdles being passed.

Initially, the safe standing areas will only be able to be used when Bristol Rugby are holding games at the stadium as current regulations prohibit their use for football matches – the Football League has agreed to lobby the Government for a change in rules.

Standing areas in stadiums in the top two football divisions in England were outlawed after the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

The first block of rail seats was unveiled on Wednesday in front of dignitaries from the Football Association and Football League.

The club’s chief executive Doug Harman said: “If we are given the relevant permissions, this could be a great opportunity for Bristol City FC to become the first club in the Football League to install rail seating, as well as becoming a showcase for other teams up and down the country.

“At last week’s Football League meeting there was clear strong support from clubs for the League to approach the authorities for a relaxation and change in the regulations.

“We’ve received feedback from our supporters who are keen for the option of safe standing and with the proposed redevelopment of Ashton Gate and Bristol Rugby’s move to the stadium this summer, this seems to be the right time to explore this further.”

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters’ Federation, added: “What we were often told for many years is that none of the football authorities were in favour of it.

“But that is clearly no longer the case as the Football League, after a very thorough consultation, have shown that a large majority are in favour.

“We hope that the Premier League now, at the appropriate time, will consider this – there are a number of Premier League clubs who are openly in favour – and then we can take the debate forward again.”