COLORADO RUSH ADDS PROFESSIONAL 1ST TEAM
There’s a new pathway to the pros for Colorado youth soccer players.
The Colorado Rush announced that its new official first team will be Penn FC of the second-division United Soccer League.
Penn FC will replace the Harrisburg City Islanders and begin play in the USL’s Eastern Conference in 2018.
“The goal of having a professional first team at the top of our academy has been a part of Rush Soccer’s plan since the first club formed in 1997,” the Rush said in a news release announcing the new club. “The top of the pyramid is now complete for young Rush players who aspire to reach the professional ranks.”
Colorado Rush was first formed in Littleton and has since expanded to 84 other clubs across the world.
Defendant accused of slashing signs.
YORK» A judge tightened NEW bail conditions on a South American soccer official charged in the FIFA bribery scandal after prosecutors surprised the courtroom by accusing the defendant of threatening their star witness by making a slashing motion on his neck as the witness testified at trial.
The dramatic twist in federal court came after Alejandro Burzaco, a former marketing executive from Argentina, spent the day accusing Manuel Burga and two other soccer official co-defendants of taking bribes in exchange for their help securing broadcasting and hosting rights for tournaments.
Once Burzaco concluded his testimony and the jury had gone home for the day, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen to jail Burga, saying he had left Burzaco visibly shaken by twice staring at him and using the slashing motion. A lawyer for Burga claimed his client was merely scratching his throat.
The judge stopped short of locking up Burga, instead cutting off his access of phones and computers and placing him under house arrest at a home in Brooklyn. Burga already had been on GPS monitoring but had some privileges to leave the home.
Earlier, Burzaco testified that media giants Globo, of Brazil, and Televisa, of Mexico, teamed with a marketing firm to make a $15 million bribe to a FIFA executive to help them secure lucrative broadcasting rights to the World Cup in 2026 and 2030.
Burga, Jose Maria Marin and Juan Angel Napout have pleaded not guilty to charges they took part in a 24-year scheme involving at least $150 million in bribes that secured broadcasting and hosting rights for soccer tournaments around the globe.
Huskies linebacker suspended.
SEATTLE» Washington has suspended senior linebacker Azeem Victor indefinitely after his weekend arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. Victor was taken into custody early Sunday morning and released later that day, according to King County jail records. Additional details about the arrest were not immediately available.
• Arkansas fired athletic director Jeff Long, ending a nearly decadelong tenure that included the scandalous ouster of football coach Bobby Petrino and the continued mediocrity of the program under Bret Bielema.
• Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, Iowa linebacker Josey Jewell and North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb are the finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation’s top defensive player. The winner will be announced Dec. 4.
Footnotes.
New Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter said the team is listening to trade offers for slugging outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and said Miami must make changes to stop losing money. … Coach Gian Piero Ventura was fired two days after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup. … Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey was named the MLS comeback player of the year.