UPDATE 1-NHL-League owners approve new labor deal

* Players expected to ratify labor agreement on the weekend
* Bettman says he has no plans to step down as comissioner (Adds quotes, detail)
Jan 9 (Reuters) - The National Hockey League's (NHL) board of governors ratified the tentative labor deal on Wednesday, followed by Commissioner Gary Bettman's apology for dragging fans and sponsors through a four-month lockout.
Requiring a simple majority to pass, the 30 league owners voted unanimously to approve the 10-year deal that was agreed to early on Sunday after a marathon 16-hour bargaining session.
The NHL Players' Association is expected to vote on the collective bargaining agreement on Friday and Saturday.
If the players approve the deal it will remove the final obstacle standing in the way of what is expected to be a 48-game regular season that would begin Jan. 19.
The NHL said it will announce its schedule immediately after the agreement has been ratified by both parties.
After a rancorous 113-day lockout that cost both sides billions of dollars, players and owners have now turned their attention to mending fences with disgruntled fans and putting the focus back onto the ice.
"To the players, who were very clear they wanted to be on the ice and not negotiating labor contracts, to our partners who support the league financially and personally and most importantly to our fans that love and have missed NHL hockey, I am sorry," Bettman told reporters following the vote at a Manhattan hotel.
"I know an explanation or an apology will not erase the hard feelings that have built up of past few months but I owe you an apology nonetheless.
"We have a lot of work to do.
"The National Hockey League has a responsibility to earn back your trust and support whether you watch one game or every game and that effort begins today."
With training camps set to open on Sunday, Bettman would not elaborate on what plans the NHL has to make up with fans but said the league would take tangible steps and will be offering more than simple apologies.
"I think it's time to turn the page and look forward as quickly as possible," said Bettman. "It is in the process of being worked on and will be announced at the appropriate time.
"There will be outreach campaigns and efforts that will be made clear as we get closer to dropping the puck."
Having presided over three work stoppages during his time as commissioner, speculation swirled during the final days of the most recent lockout that Bettman had lost the confidence of owners and would soon be looking for new job.
But Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs offered Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly a vote of confidence on Wednesday praising the NHL's two chief negotiators for their work.
Bettman also laughed off talk of his demise, saying he was not going anywhere.
"It's nothing more than unfounded speculation," said Bettman who will mark his 29th anniversary in charge of the NHL in February. "I am looking forward to continuing to grow this game on and off the ice as we have over the last 20 years.
"I think the opportunities are great and I'm excited to be part of them." (Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)

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League owners approve new labor deal

(Reuters) - The National Hockey League's (NHL) board of governors ratified the tentative labor deal on Wednesday, followed by Commissioner Gary Bettman's apology for dragging fans and sponsors through a four-month lockout.
Requiring a simple majority to pass, the 30 league owners voted unanimously to approve the 10-year deal that was agreed to early on Sunday after a marathon 16-hour bargaining session.
The NHL Players' Association is expected to vote on the collective bargaining agreement on Friday and Saturday.
If the players approve the deal it will remove the final obstacle standing in the way of what is expected to be a 48-game regular season that would begin January 19.
The NHL said it will announce its schedule immediately after the agreement has been ratified by both parties.
After a rancorous 113-day lockout that cost both sides billions of dollars, players and owners have now turned their attention to mending fences with disgruntled fans and putting the focus back onto the ice.
"To the players, who were very clear they wanted to be on the ice and not negotiating labor contracts, to our partners who support the league financially and personally and most importantly to our fans that love and have missed NHL hockey, I am sorry," Bettman told reporters following the vote at a Manhattan hotel.
"I know an explanation or an apology will not erase the hard feelings that have built up of past few months but I owe you an apology nonetheless.
"We have a lot of work to do.
"The National Hockey League has a responsibility to earn back your trust and support whether you watch one game or every game and that effort begins today."
With training camps set to open on Sunday, Bettman would not elaborate on what plans the NHL has to make up with fans but said the league would take tangible steps and will be offering more than simple apologies.
"I think it's time to turn the page and look forward as quickly as possible," said Bettman. "It is in the process of being worked on and will be announced at the appropriate time.
"There will be outreach campaigns and efforts that will be made clear as we get closer to dropping the puck."
Having presided over three work stoppages during his time as commissioner, speculation swirled during the final days of the most recent lockout that Bettman had lost the confidence of owners and would soon be looking for new job.
But Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs offered Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly a vote of confidence on Wednesday praising the NHL's two chief negotiators for their work.
Bettman also laughed off talk of his demise, saying he was not going anywhere.
"It's nothing more than unfounded speculation," said Bettman who will mark his 29th anniversary in charge of the NHL in February. "I am looking forward to continuing to grow this game on and off the ice as we have over the last 20 years.
"I think the opportunities are great and I'm excited to be part of them."

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NHL owners approve new labor deal; players to vote

NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman secured unanimous ownership support for the pending labor deal, then apologized to everyone hurt by the long lockout and said he isn't going anywhere.
The league's board of governors met in a Manhattan hotel Wednesday and overwhelmingly approved the agreement that was reached early Sunday on the 113th day of the lockout.
Bettman felt the full brunt of anger, especially from fans, during the four-month dispute that kept hockey off the ice. But he was contrite in announcing the latest step by the owners. He said he wants to look forward and not back at the mess created by the work stoppage.
"Most importantly to our fans, who love and have missed NHL hockey, I am sorry," Bettman said. "I know that an explanation or an apology will not erase the hard feelings that have built up over the past few months, but I owe you an apology nevertheless.
"As commissioner of the National Hockey League it sometimes falls upon me to make tough decisions that disappoint and occasionally anger players and fans. This was a long and extremely difficult negotiation — one that took a lot longer than anybody wanted. I know it caused frustration, disappointment and even suffering to a lot of people who have supported the National Hockey League in many different ways."
In his nearly 20 years as commissioner, Bettman has presided over three lockouts. One caused the cancellation of the 2004-05 season, another led to a 48-game season in 1995 — much like is expected for this season.
The latest lockout wiped out 510 games. Overall, 2,208 games have been lost by labor disputes during his tenure. But Bettman was quick to call any speculation he might consider stepping down from his post as "unfounded."
"I am looking forward to continuing to grow this game, both on and off the ice, as we have over the last 20 years," he said. "I think the opportunities are great, and I am excited to be a part of them."
Players are expected to vote on the deal Friday and Saturday. If a majority of the more than 700 members in good standing agree to the terms, training camps can open Sunday. A 48-game season is likely to begin Jan. 19.
The NHL and the union are still drafting a memorandum of understanding that must be signed before training camps open. The players' association wants as much of the document as possible to be completed before voting begins.
The union is busy calling players and agents to educate them about the changes and additions to the agreement. The vote will be done electronically.
There will be no more than seven days between the opening of camps and the start of the season, and no preseason games will be played. Teams will be challenged to be ready right from the start.
"It's one thing to skate and check out their conditioning and everything else, but you don't get a chance to experiment much with lineups and lines and combinations," Washington Capitals general manager George McPhee said. "That's the hardest thing for managers right now. A lot of unknowns ... but we're excited nonetheless to get going."
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman, who forged a Hall of Fame career over 22 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, isn't concerned about getting adjusted to the new deal because the key issue of the salary cap isn't all that different.
"As things go along, every change you make, every rule you put in whether it's on ice or off ice, generally has unforeseen consequences that come up with it," said Yzerman, who retired one season after the 2004-05 lockout. "I don't see it being terribly difficult.
"Over the next year or two the market will readjust and that will sort itself out."
The agreement is for 10 years, but either side can opt out after eight. The previous deal was in effect for seven seasons.
"It's one that will stand the test of time with a system where all teams can be competitive and have a chance to make the playoffs and even win the Stanley Cup," Bettman said. "It guarantees that our attention from now on will stay where it belongs, on the ice."
After the players vote to ratify, clubs can then begin the process of winning back fans. Bettman declined to give specifics because he didn't want to be presumptuous that the union would give its approval.
"The National Hockey League has the responsibility to earn back your trust and support, whether you watch one game or every game," Bettman said. "That effort begins today. The players are ready to play their hearts out for you, the teams are preparing to welcome you back with open arms, the wait is just about over.
"Like all of you, we can't wait to drop the puck."
The NHL won't release the new schedule until the players ratify the deal. The regular season was supposed to begin Oct. 11, but the lockout wrecked those plans after it took effect Sept. 16.
The outdoor Winter Classic and the All-Star game won't be played this season.
Last season, the NHL generated $3.3 billion of revenue. The new deal will lower the players' percentage from 57 to 50.
Players will receive $300 million in transition payments over three years to account for existing contracts, pushing their revenue share over 50 percent at the start of the deal. They also gained a defined benefit pension plan for the first time.
The salary cap for this season will be $70.2 million before prorating to adjust for the shortened season, and the cap will drop to $64.3 million in 2013-14 — the same amount as 2011-12. There will be a salary floor of $44 million in those years.
Free agents will be limited to contracts of seven years (eight for those re-signed with their former club).
Salaries within a contract may not vary by more than 35 percent year to year, and the lowest year must be at least 50 percent of the highest year.
The minimum salary will remain at $525,000, and there were no changes to eligibility for free agency and salary arbitration.
The threshold for teams to release players in salary arbitration will increase from $1.75 million to $3 million.
Each team may use two buyouts to terminate contracts before the 2013-14 or 2014-15 seasons for two-thirds of the remaining guaranteed income. The buyout will be included in the players' revenue share but not the salary cap.
Revenue sharing will increase to $200 million annually and rise with revenue.
An industry growth fund of $60 million will be funded by the sides over three years and replenished as needed.
Issues such as whether NHL players will participate in the 2014 Olympics and realignment within the league will be addressed with the union down the line.
"Together our collective future is extremely bright," said Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, who is also the chairman of the board of governors. "Our only interest now is to look ahead and focus on what this great game can provide to the best sports fans in the world.

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Soccer-Pro Patria given one-game fan ban over Boateng incident

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Italian fourth-tier side Pro Patria must play their next home league match behind closed doors after fans racially abused AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng, the league said on Tuesday.

Boateng walked off the pitch in last week's friendly because of monkey chants and his team mates followed him, drawing widespread praise across the game.

An Italian lower league (Lega Pro) statement said the taunts were "clearly racial discrimination" and deserved an immediate one-game stadium ban.

Italian soccer federation president Giancarlo Abete, whose organisation has long battled racism among fans, told reporters that officials could act in the future before players have to.

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UPDATE 2-Soccer-Bulgaria and Hungary told to play behind closed doors

BERNE, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Bulgaria and Hungary were ordered to play their next home World Cup qualifiers behind closed doors after their fans were found guilty of racist and anti-Semitic behaviour in recent games, FIFA said Tuesday.
Bulgaria were sanctioned after a group of supporters racially abused Denmark substitute Patrick Mtiliga every time he touched the ball after entering the field in the second half of their 2014 World Cup qualifier in Sofia in October.
Hungary's punishment followed anti-Semitic chanting by fans in a friendly at home to Israel in August.
In both cases, FIFA's disciplinary committee warned that a repetition could lead to harsher penalties which include a possible points deduction, the forfeiting of the match or even disqualification from the competition.
In an unusually strongly-worded statement, FIFA described the incidents in Sofia as "offensive, denigratory and discriminatory" while the incidents in Budapest were labelled "abhorrent."
The sanctions came as FIFA's European counterpart UEFA is accused of being too lenient on cases of racism, letting offending clubs off with fines.
Porto, Lazio and Serbia have all been given fines over recent racism cases by European soccer's disciplinary committee although UEFA itself has appealed the Serbia decision, relating to an under-21 match at home to England, and asked for stronger sanctions.
Bulgaria, whose next home game in Group B is against Malta in March, were also fined 35,000 Swiss francs and Hungary, who host Romania also in March in Group D, were fined 40,000 francs.
Hungary's match is potentially decisive as the two sides are level in second place with nine points, three behind leaders and clear favourites Netherlands.
FIFA said that during the Bulgaria match, also marred by a firework-throwing incident in the seventh-minute, fans were warned by the stadium announcer about their behaviour in the 73rd minute.
"Although the level of abuse subsided, audible racist abuse still continued until the final whistle," said FIFA.
"The disciplinary committee agreed that the offensive, denigratory and discriminatory actions of a small group of Bulgarian supporters, was shameful and a clear breach of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
"In addition, the incendiary devices thrown, which can pose considerable threats to personal safety, are also not tolerated."
FIFA said that in Hungary's case, it had been informed by the FARE (Football Against Racism Europe) group that some supporters had made anti-Semitic chants and displayed offensive symbols.
"The members of the FIFA disciplinary committee were unanimous in condemning an abhorrent episode of racism, anti-Semitism, and of political provocative and aggressive nature perpetrated by supporters of the Hungarian national team," said FIFA.
It added that the Hungarian federation had acknowledged and regretted the fans' behaviour.
Last week, AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, who played for Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, took his shirt off and walked off the pitch after being racially insulted in a pre-season friendly against a lower tier side. His team mates followed him and the match was abandoned.

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Soccer-Galatasaray say open talks to sign Sneijder

Jan 8 (Reuters) - Galatasaray have opened talks to try to sign Inter Milan's out-of-favour Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder, the Turkish league leaders said on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old has not played for the Italian side since negotiations aimed at getting him to accept a cut in wages broke down in November.
"Galatasaray have begun talks with Inter for the transfer of Wesley Sneijder," a statement from the Turkish champions said.

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NHL players respond to lawsuit in labor dispute

 As the National Hockey League and the players' union sought to negotiate the end to a long labor dispute that has jeopardized the season, proceedings in a lawsuit pitting the two sides against each other moved forward.
In a court filing on Thursday, the players asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the league that sought a declaration confirming the legality of the player lockout.
The lockout has been in place since mid-September as the two sides have struggled to come to a new labor agreement. The league has canceled games up to January 14, more than 50 percent of the regular season which was scheduled to start in October.
The dispute moved to court last month after reports circulated that the NHL Players' Association (NHLPA) would seek a vote from its members to proceed with a "disclaim of interest" and no longer represent players in bargaining.
Such a move would free players to file antitrust lawsuits against the league in an effort to block the lockout.
In its court filing on Thursday, lawyers for the NHLPA argued that the lawsuit filed by the league was premature and that it should be dismissed.
"They ask the Court to simply assume the outcome of events that had not yet taken place at the time the Complaint was filed, and then decree what the law would be on the basis of those assumptions," wrote lawyers for the players.
A spokesman for the NHL declined to comment on the filing.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of Manhattan immediately responded to the players' request by issuing an order scheduling a conference January 7 to establish a case-management plan for the litigation. He wrote that the goal of the plan should be to enhance "the parties' ability to resolve their disputes with dispatch.

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NHL-Labor talks at near standstill as season deadline looms

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Negotiations on a labor deal between the National Hockey League (NHL) and locked out players ground to a near standstill on Thursday, with time running out on salvaging even a partial season.
The optimism that surrounded talks on Wednesday vanished quickly as the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) dialed up the pressure, calling on the membership to vote again to give their executive board the power to file a disclaimer of interest that would dissolve the union and free individual players to file anti-trust lawsuits against the league.
The move came less than 24 hours after the union opted not to play the disclaimer card and let a self-imposed Wednesday midnight deadline pass, allowing negotiations to continue into the late evening.
However, the mood had changed dramatically when the two parties returned to the bargaining table early on Thursday afternoon with talks limited to small group discussions that did not include NHLPA chief Donald Fehr.
With very little bargaining taking place, the focus shifted to tactics and legal maneuvering, with the union going to court on Thursday to ask a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the league.
The dispute moved to court last month after reports circulated that the NHLPA would seek a vote from its members to proceed with a "disclaim of interest" and the NHL launched a pre-emptive strike asking to have the lockout declared legal.
In its court filing, lawyers for the NHLPA argued that the lawsuit filed by the league was premature and that it should be dismissed.
"They ask the court to simply assume the outcome of events that had not yet taken place at the time the complaint was filed, and then decree what the law would be on the basis of those assumptions," wrote lawyers for the players.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of Manhattan immediately responded to the players' request by issuing an order scheduling a Jan. 7 conference to establish a case-management plan for the litigation that "may enhance, and does not needlessly inhibit, the parties' ability to resolve their disputes with dispatch".
With more than half the season already wiped out and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman having set a Jan. 19 deadline for the puck to drop on a shortened 48-game schedule, time is running out on the league and players to get a deal done.
There had been indications the two sides were inching closer to agreement on major issues - such has how to split $3.3 billion in revenue - contract lengths, revenue sharing and length of the new collective bargaining agreement but they remain far apart on others.
Player pension plans and how they are funded has suddenly popped up as the hot topic, along with where the salary cap ceiling should be set.

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DISCOVER YAHOO! WITH YOUR FRIENDS close Labor talks at near standstill as season deadline looms

Negotiations on a labor deal between the National Hockey League (NHL) and locked out players ground to a near standstill on Thursday, with time running out on salvaging even a partial season.
The optimism that surrounded talks on Wednesday vanished quickly as the NHL Players Association (NHLPA) dialed up the pressure, calling on the membership to vote again to give their executive board the power to file a disclaimer of interest that would dissolve the union and free individual players to file anti-trust lawsuits against the league.
The move came less than 24 hours after the union opted not to play the disclaimer card and let a self-imposed Wednesday midnight deadline pass, allowing negotiations to continue into the late evening.
However, the mood had changed dramatically when the two parties returned to the bargaining table early on Thursday afternoon with talks limited to small group discussions that did not include NHLPA chief Donald Fehr.
With very little bargaining taking place, the focus shifted to tactics and legal maneuvering, with the union going to court on Thursday to ask a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the league.
The dispute moved to court last month after reports circulated that the NHLPA would seek a vote from its members to proceed with a "disclaim of interest" and the NHL launched a pre-emptive strike asking to have the lockout declared legal.
In its court filing, lawyers for the NHLPA argued that the lawsuit filed by the league was premature and that it should be dismissed.
"They ask the court to simply assume the outcome of events that had not yet taken place at the time the complaint was filed, and then decree what the law would be on the basis of those assumptions," wrote lawyers for the players.
U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of Manhattan immediately responded to the players' request by issuing an order scheduling a January 7 conference to establish a case-management plan for the litigation that "may enhance, and does not needlessly inhibit, the parties' ability to resolve their disputes with dispatch".
With more than half the season already wiped out and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman having set a January 19 deadline for the puck to drop on a shortened 48-game schedule, time is running out on the league and players to get a deal done.
There had been indications the two sides were inching closer to agreement on major issues - such has how to split $3.3 billion in revenue - contract lengths, revenue sharing and length of the new collective bargaining agreement but they remain far apart on others.
Player pension plans and how they are funded has suddenly popped up as the hot topic, along with where the salary cap ceiling should be set.
The league wants a cap locked in at $60 million while the players are believed to be seeking something in the $65-67 million range.

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