PSG boss faces investigation
The Qatari president of one of Europe’s most glamorous soccer clubs, Paris Saint-Germain, is under investigation by Swiss prosecutors for suspected bribery of a top FIFA executive to get World Cup broadcasting rights.
Criminal proceedings against Nasser Al-Khelaifi, PSG president and CEO of Qatar-owned BeIN Media Group, former FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, and an unnamed “businessman in the sports rights sector” was announced by the office of Switzerland’s attorney general yesterday.
The case involves the award of broadcast rights for the next four World Cups from 2018 through 2030.
The proceeding against Al-Khelaifi is one of the first direct links to Qatar in sweeping investigations by federal law enforcement authorities in Switzerland, the United States, and France of FIFA, international soccer, and the 2018-2022 World Cup bidding contests.
The Paris offices of BeIN Sports were searched by two magistrates from the French financial prosecutor’s office, the federal agency said. They were assisted by investigators from an anti-corruption unit.
Properties were also searched in Greece, Italy, and Spain while Valcke was questioned in Switzerland, the Swiss federal prosecution office said. It cited cooperation from a European Union criminal investigation agency . . . .
Hanson’s Samantha Mewis was named as a midfielder on the NWSL’s 2017 Best XI after helping the North Carolina Courage into tomorrow’s NWSL Championship game against the Portland Thorns. It is the first Best XI selection for the U.S. international. She has six goals and three assists in 24 games this season . . . .
The United States stumbled to a 3-1 loss to Colombia in its final groupstage game at the Under-17 World Cup in India, and will play Paraguay, Germany or Iran in the second round next week . . . .
Gordon Strachan is leaving his role as Scotland coach after nearly five years in charge following the national team’s failure to reach the 2018 World Cup.
Colleges: Pitt’s Browne done
Pittsburgh quarterback Max Browne has undergone surgery on his right shoulder and is out for the rest of the season. Browne was injured in the third quarter of a loss to Syracuse last weekend. A graduate transfer from Southern California, Browne had just one season of eligibility remaining . . . .
Florida State’s Landon Dickerson has had his season cut short for the second straight year. The sophomore left guard will have surgery on his right ankle. He was injured during the Seminoles’ 24-20 loss to No. 11 Miami on Oct. 7 . . . .
Auburn says it has received a federal grand jury subpoena in the bribery case against basketball associate head coach Chuck Person.
Misc.: Nadal wins 14 in row
Rafael Nadal won his 14th consecutive match to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals, beating Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-3, 6-1 in Shanghai.
Fognini occupied Nadal for 63 minutes, nine minutes longer Nadal’s second-round match.
Roger Federer, seeded second to Nadal, also was not detained for long as he defeated Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 6-2 . . . .
Portland International Raceway is back on the IndyCar Series schedule in 2018. The Sept. 2 race on the 1.967-mile permanent road course will be IndyCar’s first trip to the Oregon track since races were held from 1984-2007 under CART and Champ Car sanction . . . .
A federal judge in Grand Rapids, Mich., has ordered former Major Leaguer Baseball player Chad Curtis to pay $1.8 million to a young woman who accused him of inappropriately touching her when he was a volunteer coach at a western Michigan high school . . . .
Rodney McGruder, who started at small forward for the Miami Heat last season and was a strong candidate to open this season in the same role, is scheduled for have surgery next week to repair a stress fracture in his left leg.