PIETERMARITZBURG, August 5, 2008 (AFP) - The judge in Jacob Zuma's graft case said Tuesday he will rule next month on whether to throw out charges against the South African ruling party chief as two days of hearings concluded.

TOKYO, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - The head of the world's baseball governing body on Thursday defended the introduction of a time-saving tie-breaking rule at the Beijing Games as a necessary step to bring the sport back to the Olympics.

COLOMBO, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has backed a new experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions, saying it has succeeded in cutting down mistakes.

COLOMBO, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan on Thursday became the first beneficiary of an experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions in Test cricket.

COLOMBO, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - Indian cricket captain Anil Kumble and his Sri Lankan opposite number Mahela Jayawardene Tuesday welcomed an experimental rule allowing players to seek a second opinion on umpiring decisions.

BRUSSELS, June 5, 2008 (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter defended his controversial 'six plus five' foreign player system at the European parliament here, saying it would nurture young talent and benefit the national game.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2, 2008 (AFP) - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam Monday threw his support behind FIFA's controversial foreign player quota plans.

The AFC chief said the move was a step in the right direction, despite opposition from the European Commission, which has rejected the idea, warning it would contravene EU labour rules.

Sepp Blatter is convinced Europe will come on board and agree with his foreign player quota for club teams after an overwhelming endorsement by the FIFA Congress here Friday.

The Congress gave the FIFA president and his executive committee sweeping support to explore the controversial system of six home-grown players and a maximum of five foreigners, known as 'six plus five'.

English Football Association (FA) chief executive Brian Barwick warned FIFA Friday its quota plan faces huge hurdles, and said he favoured players being in teams based on performance.

The FIFA Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution here Friday to support a quota of six home-grown players and a maximum of five foreigners in club football teams.

The resolution gives the green light for football's governing body to come up with a plan for introducing the quota system, possibly by 2010.

The FIFA Congress passed here Friday a resolution for a quota of six home-grown players and a maximum of five foreigners in club football teams.

Sepp Blatter, president of football's governing body FIFA, has been seeking the introduction of the quota to protect the identity of national teams.

SYDNEY, May 27, 2008 (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter Tuesday said he wanted to explore all legal means to implement his controversial 'six plus five' quotas of foreign players.

Blatter said he will move a resolution at this week's FIFA Congress here to investigate European laws for ways to make the plan a reality.