Australia’s bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup has come under scrutiny after a series of newspaper reports questioning the Australian Football Federation’s (FFA) spending.

A report in Fairfax newspapers claimed that the FFA had agreed to multi-million dollar fees for lobbyists and consultants that would equate to more than a quarter of the total cost of the bid.

Other allegations suggested that pearl necklaces had been given to the wives of the FIFA executive committee, while another committee member received pearl cufflinks and a trip to Australia.

FFA CEO, Ben Brdaley, has denied the allegations, saying that the bid accounts are transparent and spending is within all necessary legal and public requirements.

Sports Minister Kate Ellis has promised to investigate the allegations, saying: “Obviously when the FFA spends government money, it is subject to the usual reporting and scrutiny requirements. Any evidence to the contrary will be thoroughly investigated by the government, as would any alleged breach of the funding agreement.”

Australia’s ambitions to host the 2018 World Cup were ended earlier this month when they withdrew their bid after it became clear that FIFA wanted to hold the tournament in Europe.

Pre-order solution company Qjacker has signed a partnership with Southampton FC. 

With Qjacker, Saints fans can pre-purchase hot food, beers and wines, soft drinks, hot beverages and great range of snacks and confectionary – you can even pre-order your copy of SAINTS, our official matchday magazine.

In a stement on Southampton’s website, Qjacker explained their product: “Pre-ordering through Qjacker begins 24 hours before kick-off. Simply make sure your order is with us no later than two hours before the game begins and your items will be ready and waiting for you, whether you want to collect them when you arrive at the stadium or during the half-time interval.”

The former Professional Squash Association chief executive officer Richard Graham has become the Interim CEO of Commonwealth Games England (CGE). 

He succeeds Adam Paker who is moving to be Chief Executive at the Amateur Swimming Association in November after three years leading CGE. Graham began his career in tennis as Commercial Director for the Miami Masters Tennis before becoming Chief Operating Officer at the sports media agency, Parallel Media Group.

During his tenure as CEO of the Professional Squash Association, Richard re-structured the professional tour and securing a media contract for the organisation for the first time. Since then, he has set up his own recruitment business in sport working with a range of football clubs and federations. Richard has also carried out a number of Non-Executive Director and Advisor roles in swimming, rugby league, football, and for the charity, Sporting Equals.

Sir Andrew Foster, Chair of Commonwealth Games England, said: “We are delighted to appoint Richard Graham as the Interim Chief Executive Officer for Commonwealth Games England. Throughout the selection process he impressed us with his energy, passion for the Commonwealth Games and experience at a senior level across a range of sports.”

“Richard has some well-considered ideas on how to develop our strategy in the short and long term. I am confident that Richard, together with CGE’s Chair Designate, Ian Metcalfe, will provide the right leadership for the organisation during its next phase.”

Richard Graham, Interim CEO of Commonwealth Games England, said: “I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to help Commonwealth Games England build on the successes achieved at Glasgow 2014. From a young age the Commonwealth Games have given me some of my favourite sporting memories and I am delighted to have been given the chance to support Team England as we look to defend our position at the top of the medal table.

“My priorities over the coming six months will be to participate in the CGE Glasgow 2014 review, work with the CGE board to shape our strategy to Gold Coast 2018 and securing additional revenue to best equip Team England to be successful.

British Heptathlete and reigning Commonwealth Games champion Louise Hazel has revealed she will now be represented by MB Partners.

After a 12-year international career which saw Hazel become Commonwealth Games champion in Delhi 2010 and then represent Team GB at the Olympics in London last year, health Hazel decided to hang up her spikes in September and focus on building a professional career off-track.

The 27-year-old recently became ambassador for the British Heart Foundation and also spokesperson for REPs (Register for Exercise Professionals) to increase awareness of how important it is to have qualified and experienced fitness professionals giving advice to ensure both results and personal safety.

Commenting on her signing with MB Partners, anabolics Hazel added: “I am delighted to be joining the team. I’m really looking forward to working on future projects with MB Partners as I move towards a career in health/fitness and entertainment.”

Founder and CEO of MB Partners, Mark Blundell, sais: “It’s fantastic news to be able to welcome Louise and a great honour for our company to represent a gold medal holder which is a magnificent achievement.  We look forward to supporting Louise as she embarks on the next stage of her career.”

Manchester City are soon to have the second largest stadium in the Premier League after revealing plans to increase the capacity of their ground to 61,000.

The former Premier League champions will add a third tier behind the goals of the Etihad Stadium’s North and South stands updating their 48,000 current capacity, subject to planning approval.

They will be second on the list of highest capacity’s in the league trailing neighbours Manchester United (over 75,000) and just ahead of Arsenal (just under 61,000).

Tiers will include about 6,750 seats, with fans able to join a season ticket waiting list for the seats next week.

The club aim to submit the plans next month and hope work will start on the project in February.

City said the work would not impact season ticket holders attending home matches. The tiers are expected to be completed for the beginning of the 2015/16 season.

A club spokesman said: “Should the club’s exciting plans receive planning approval, City’s home, which this year celebrates its 10th birthday, is set to be even more visually dramatic”.

The stadium initially had a capacity of 38,000 when it was built for the Commonwealth Games, which were held in Manchester in 2002. The team has played its home fixtures at the stadium since 2003 where the ground was previously known as the City of Manchester stadium.

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Berlin has been announced as the latest city to host a FIA Formula E Championship race in 2014.

Berlin will be one of the10 global cities – and only the third in Europe – to host the new fully-electric racing series, pills beginning in 2014. 

Formula E is a new FIA championship that brings electric vehicle racing to the people, as city centres around the world play host to an electric energy Championship, designed to promote interest and investment in electric vehicles and sustainable motoring. Ten teams with two drivers each will participate in the races, which last approximately one hour using Formula cars capable of reaching speeds of more than 220kph with zero emissions. 

Formula E Holdings CEO Alejandro Agag Commented: “We are delighted to be in Berlin and very grateful to the Senator and to the Berlin authorities for welcoming our Championship to their city. With more than 1,200 electric vehicles and over 220 public charging points already in circulation, Berlin is leading the way in Europe for innovation and sustainable mobility, which is why we selected it as a host city for Formula E. We’re now very much looking forward to putting on a great show for the people of Berlin at Tempelhof and one the city can be proud of.” 

Senator Cornelia Yzer commented: “Berlin, as an international city and leading metropolis of electric mobility, is an ideal venue for Formula E. We are pleased to be able to host the event in this cosmopolitan city and for Berlin to present new and innovative technologies. Formula E will also inspire people to consider Electromobility.” 

The German capital now joins a list of 10 cities around the world that will feature Formula E races during the inaugural season, which was confirmed at the recent FIA World Motor Sport Council will run as a ‘winter calendar’ from September 2014 to  June 2015. The final calendar – featuring London, Rome, Los Angeles, Miami, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Putrajaya, Bangkok, and Berlin – will be presented to the FIA for their approval at the September 2013 World Motor Sport Council. 

Gerhard W. Steindorf, CEO of Tempelhof, added: “We are very pleased that Formula E will be held at Tempelhof Airport. Since 2009, the historical building has been the scene of numerous, very different events. The airport building is always a spectacular setting for the presentation of innovative ideas and technologies. Formula E is something completely new and pioneering and fits it perfectly into our idea of how this unique place is used.”