Walt Disney Group is buying the 40 per cent of Soccernet, the "world's most popular football site", that it doesn't already own. Terms were undisclosed.

The seller of the shares, the Daily Mail and General Trust, sold a 60 per cent stake in Soccernet to Disney in August, 1999. The sale of the remainder was "contemplated by the original deal," according to Disney.

It says the purchase will help plans for the global expansion of ESPN.com site, the world's biggest online sports property.

Soccernet claims 65 million page views for its coverage of Euro 2000. The site is to be relaunched in time for the next Premier League season, with more original match coverage and analysis, along with "expanded interactive and community features". ®