Philippines

Asia's economic crisis has begun to bite into Singapore's professional soccer league, with players being forced to take a pay cut, a source close to the island state's national team has said.

The NBA, constrained by the ?mature? domestic market are seeking new markets in Asia, according to a report in the Asian Wall Street Journal.

Bribery and match-fixing hamper the development of soccer in Southeast Asia, and a farcical game in the recent Tiger Cup championship has further tarnished the sport's image, coaches and officials said.

Video-on-demand (VOD) firm Yes Television ? which hopes to become one of the leaders in on-demand sport ? has formed a joint venture with Sky Vision Corporation.

The Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments, Sydney 2000, has reaffirmed their ruling on age limits, and announced that the Men's Olympic final will be played in Sydney's new Olympic Stadium.

Macau Cable TV has concluded a deal to carry ESPN and STAR Sports.

The United Nations investigator for children's rights has reported that professional soccer had joined the list of sectors shamed by child trafficking from underdeveloped countries.

The English Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have put the finishing touches to a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will lead to long-term technical co-operation between the two governing bodies.

Retailer FJ Benjamin has scored an exclusive deal with English soccer champions Manchester United to sell club merchandise and set up a chain of theme stores and cafes across soccer-crazy South-east Asia.

A popular Philippine spectator sport was relaunched recently, 13 years after it was banned following a game-fixing scandal, and hundreds of punters joined the action.

The Southeast Asian Games, currently being hosted by Malaysia, is set to take place less frequently as organisers try and recapture its attraction to both the public and sponsors.

The ASEAN Football Federation has announced that Singapore and Indonesia will share the hosting rights for next year's Tiger Cup.