English force Hampden pay-out

Hampden is managed by the SFA

An English internet company at the centre of a controversy over registering Scottish domain names, has forced the Scottish Football Association to part with £5,000 for hampdenpark.co.uk.

Webhound was the subject of criticism in January when it revealed it had registered the names of hundreds of Scottish towns and villages.

Now it has forced the SFA to concede defeat in its battle to secure an address for Scotland's national stadium, Hampden Park.

The SFA has agreed to make a £5,000 donation to St Wilfred's Hospice in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to secure hampdenpark.co.uk from the Suffolk-based company.

Addresses are important to web users

SFA spokesmand Andy Mitchell said it had acquired the domain name but refused to discuss the deal.

Webhound's activities came to light in January when a group of residents of the village of Balfron decided to set up a website.

They were asked by Webhound to pay £500 for the address.

The move was criticised by politicians and community representatives who demanded a review of internet name licensing.

Webhound managing director Angela Barrow said the company paid on average £5 for the addresses.

She said: "What we have done is perfectly legal.

"Domain names can be registered by anyone.

"Anyone can think of a name, add '.co.uk'. Whoever gets there first gets it."