Blatter subject of criminal probe

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was placed under criminal investigation by Swiss authorities as a probe into soccer corruption reached the highest levels and left his grip on the top job in peril.

The Swiss attorney general’s office opened proceedings against Blatter for possible criminal mismanagement and misappropriation of FIFA money. Authorities also searched Blatter’s office and seized data.

The announcements came as FIFA wrapped up a twoday executive committee meeting and marked another stunning day of turmoil for the governing body and Blatter, who have been targeted by American and Swiss investigations into corruption. NHL: Brenden Dillon, Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi scored for the Sharks, who defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 in San Jose’s first home game of the preseason. The Sharks are 2-0-1 in exhibitions. College football: Boise State (3-1) scored 17 points before the game was barely seven minutes old and coasted to a 56-14 victory over host Virginia (1-3). Baseball: Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon was suspended for three games and fined by Major League Baseball for throwing a pitch in the “head area” of Baltimore’s Manny Machado on Wednesday. Papelbon appealed the ruling, making him eligible to pitch.

The Boston Red Sox hired former Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren as senior vice president of baseball operations, a day after Mike Hazen was promoted to general manager. It was the latest change made by Dave Dombrowski, who was hired in August as president of baseball operations. Motor sports: Carl Edwards continued Joe Gibbs Racing’s dominance with a lap of 137.980 mph to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup pole at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick was second, the boost he needed after finishing 42nd last week in the Chase opener at Chicagoland. Kurt Busch, Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing’s teammate, was third.