MCI seeking return to F1

MCI, which became WorldCom but has returned to its original name in the wake of WorldCom's ignominious collapse, is aiming to get into Formula One sponsorship next season, according to Global Marketing Communications, which has been commissioned to find the appropriate team. WorldCom was the sponsor of the Williams team in 2001 and 2002 for an estimated $4.4 million a year.

ITALIAN DEBT: Clubs in Italy's top soccer division were carrying a total debt load of nearly $300 million as of April 30, according to figures from the league's finance watchdog, the Football Club Supervisory Commission, as reported in daily paper La Repubblica. Almost half the total — $132 million — was owed by Rome club Lazio. Its crosstown rival, AS Roma, was the second most indebted at $58.5 million.

TRAVELING MONEY: The English clubs participating in next month's FA Premier League Asia Cup in Malaysia will earn about $1 million each. Birmingham City, Chelsea, Newcastle and the Malaysian national side make up the four-team tournament in Kuala Lumpur. It is the first officially branded Premier League competition outside the United Kingdom.

RECORD DEAL: English second division team Brighton and Hove Albion FC has signed Skint Records as its shirt sponsor for another year. The exact annual fee was not revealed, but the club said it was in the six figures in pounds, or at least $160,000. The 2003-04 season will be the fifth with Brighton-based Skint as the team's sponsor. They make a good match. Brighton has a long history of grave financial problems, and "skint" is British slang for broke.

LONDON PRESENCE: Stamford, Conn.-based Inner Circle Sports, a financial consultancy for sports launched in November and headed by Rob Tilliss, formerly of JPMorgan Chase, is opening a London office. London executives are Sanjib Datta and Howard Lacy.

— Jay Stuart