...as FIFA postpones World Club championship till 2003

FIFA has postponed the World Club Championship, set for the end of July, until 2003. FIFA said on Friday it based its decision on the inconvenience of the event's timing for the 12 teams involved, the fall-out from the problems of the ISL marketing company and the economic problems of many of the countries whose clubs were involved.

The tournament, first played in January 2000, groups clubs who have won major championships in FIFA's six continental confederations plus a host team, in Spain's case Deportivo Coruna.

ISL was responsible for marketing major FIFA tournaments including the 2002 World Cup. FIFA severed its links with ISL on Thursday.

"The current commercial market has been considerably disrupted by the problems confronting ISL/ISMM," FIFA said.

"This has left FIFA's marketing partner for the event, Traffic, confronted by major difficulties in selling the 2001 edition to sponsors and broadcasters."