Sport: Jowell Placates Angry Architect

The award-winning architect Zaha Hadid has received an apology from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport after Tessa Jowell told a conference of business leaders that unnecessary design changes to her proposed Olympic aquatic centre had doubled the cost.

Hadid's design was initially hailed by London 2012 organisers as an example of the ground-breaking design the games would showcase but Jowell's gaffe, intended to demonstrate that the government would crack down on overspending, left the DCMS facing legal action from an outraged Hadid.

Hence the department's head of sport Nicola Roche has sent a contrite "clarification" to Hadid saying: "I can confirm that Zaha Hadid Architects did not change the specification, nor have they been responsible for any proposed rises in costs . . . I can assure you on behalf of the DCMS that we are grateful for, and supportive of, the work carried out by your team."

Beeb lets Dein off lightly

Little wonder the key FA power broker David Dein moves so serenely through English football's corridors of power when even the BBC treats the Arsenal vice-chairman with kid gloves. Interviewed by Mark Saggers on Five Live on Wednesday night, the prime mover in the imminent appointment of Luiz Felipe Scolari as England manager talked up Arsenal's achievements without facing a single question about his role in selecting Sven-Goran Eriksson's successor. A BBC spokesman said: "It would have been a wasted question. Dein told us he would not talk about Scolari."

Johnson is FA's rising star

Simon Johnson's presence at Brian Barwick's elbow throughout the recruitment process for the next England manager underlines the head of corporate affairs' growing influence at Soho Square. Johnson accompanied the FA chief executive to Lisbon on Wednesday to open negotiations with Luiz Felipe Scolari and is responsible for guiding the Burns review through the FA's competing factions. He has also taken personal responsibility for the FA's diversity agenda and will add international relations to his portfolio in September, giving him responsibility for steering the 2018 World Cup bid.

Bates bans journalist

Ken Bates's limited tolerance for journalists has surfaced again at Elland Road. The Leeds chairman has banned a BBC freelancer from covering games because of his links to Sheffield Wednesday's chairman Dave Allen. Bates believes the Sheffield-based reporter Alan Biggs opposed his bid to buy Wednesday. Biggs, who admits being close to Allen, said: "I am sorry if Mr Bates has taken exception to anything I have written but the issue should be professional not personal."

Reebok's Henry horror

Adidas's decision to immediately throw its UK muscle behind Liverpool, starting with new kit at the FA Cup final, contrasts with its subsidiary Reebok's enforced wait until August 1 to exploit its star signing Thierry Henry. The Arsenal striker has been tempted away from Nike but Reebok will not be able to cash in on his Champions League final or World Cup appearances. Worse, he will continue to star in Nike ads during both.