Auburn receives federal subpoena
Auburn said it has received a federal grand jury subpoena in the bribery case against basketball associate head coach Chuck Person.
The university confirmed that in a statement Thursday in response to an open records request from The Associated Press. Auburn’s statement said it won’t yet release the documents because they are typically “sent with the understanding that they will be treated confidentially,” including on whether they were received in the first place.
Oklahoma State provided AP and other media outlets with a copy of the subpoena it received in the widespread corruption case, prompting Auburn to acknowledge that it also has gotten one.
Person was suspended without pay after prosecutors said the former NBA player accepted about $91,500 in bribes to steer clients to a Pittsburgh-based financial adviser when they reached the NBA.
More college basketball
The Pac-12 Conference is launching its own task force to develop reform proposals in the wake of a federal bribery investigation that includes two assistant coaches (Southern California’s Tony Bland and Arizona’s Emanuel Richardson) in the conference. Commissioner Larry Scott expects the 10 to 12 members on his task force “to address issues that are threatening the integrity of collegiate athletics and to protect our student-athletes.” Scott named the first five members at the Pac-12’s men’s basketball media day — a day after the NCAA announced a commission to study the inner workings of college basketball amid the scandal.
Soccer
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 AlKhelaifi, 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. The case involves the award of broadcast rights for the next four World Cups from 2018 through 2030.
• The United States stumbled to a 3-1 loss to Colombia in its final group-stage game at the Under-17 World Cup in Navi Mumbia, India, and will play Paraguay, Germany or Iran in the second round next week. The Americans (2-1) began the day leading Group A but fell to third place with the defeat, falling behind Ghana on goal difference and Colombia on head-to-head.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal won his 14th consecutive match to reach the Shanghai Masters quarterfinals, beating Fabio Fognini of Italy, 6-3, 6-1. 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.
• The WTA said Johanna Konta withdrew from the Kremlin Cup next week, meaning Caroline Garcia has secured the eighth and last berth in the WTA Finals.