German automaker BMW "has absolutely no interest in returning to F1," according to Nimmervoll & Wittemeier of MOTORSPORT-TOTAL.com. BMW Motorsports Dir Jens Marquardt said, "There are no plans for an F1 return whatsoever. In July 2009 the company made a clear decision, which is still valid. We are well portioned in motorsports and those involvements will not change in the near future." BMW's most-important motorsports involvement is the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). In addition, the Munich-based company is also featured with a factory team in the Superbike World Championship and in collaboration with Rahal/Letterman/Lanigan Racing in the American Le Mans Series (MOTORSPORT-TOTAL.com, 9/4). ... German national football team Manager Oliver Bierhoff "will travel to Brazil at the end of the year to find a team accommodation for the 2014 World Cup." Bierhoff said, "We will travel to Brazil at the end of November or at the beginning of December." A couple a weeks ago, FIFA provided national football federations with a catalog of more than four-dozen locations (DPA, 9/4). ... FIFA and UEFA said that they are studying corruption allegations involving Lithuanian football federation Leader Julius Kvederas before "deciding if he can remain" one of their committee members. A Lithuanian court "has ordered Kvederas to step down as LFF president for six months" during a probe into whether he illegally took football funds (AP, 9/4).
GETTING AHEAD: Australian Rugby League Commission Chair John Grant has "defended the decision to take tougher action on the eve of the finals against tacklers whose shoulder makes contact with the head of an opponent" as Cronulla's Ben Pomeroy prepares to face the judiciary Wednesday. Pomeroy will become the first player referred to the tribunal on a dangerous contact charge since the ARLC last week announced the crackdown on shoulder charges and is "expected to receive a season ending ban if he is found guilty" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/5).
