A’s Bassitt has ‘successful’ surgery, could return to the Bay Area soon

A’s starting pitcher Chris Bassitt is expected back in the Bay Area later this week following what the club described as “successful” facial surgery Tuesday at Rush Medical Center in Chicago.

Bassitt, the A’s No. 1 starter, took a line drive to the face off the bat of Brian Goodwin on Aug. 18 and was immediately taken to the hospital. The drive was timed at 100.1 mph. Surgery was performed once the swelling subsided.

“That is great news,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said before the A’s hosted the Seattle Mariners at the Coliseum. “All the little nuance things that we probably knew about in there all went beautifully. Took out fragments, the whole bit. I think it went exceptionally well and everybody feels great about that.” DIAMONDBACKS’ SMITH

SUSPENDED 10 GAMES FOR STICKY SUBSTANCE >> Arizona Diamondbacks lefthander Caleb Smith has been suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for having a foreign substance on his glove during a game last week.

Soccer

PREMIER LEAGUE DEFIES FIFA, BLOCKS PLAYERS FOR WC QUALIFIERS >> The decision of the Premier League clubs was clear: No players will be released to play for countries on England’s “red list.” The announcement by the world’s richest league highlighted the escalating backlash FIFA is facing across soccer over its decision to overlook coronavirus-related quarantine requirements and concerns of clubs and leagues to squeeze in more World Cup qualifiers in the coming weeks.

The Spanish league also said it would support any of its clubs that did not want to release players for international duty with South American teams.

Unlike for other international fixtures during the pandemic, FIFA is no longer allowing exemptions for players to opt out of the trips if they are forced to quarantine on their return to countries to resume club duties.

FIFA, SOCCER BODIES TO

GET $200M AS VICTIMS OF CORRUPTION >> The U.S. Department of Justice declared FIFA and other soccer bodies to be victims of corrupt former officials and said they would get more than $200 million from cash forfeited in a sprawling investigation.a

A first amount of $32.2 million will be paid into a “World Football Remission Fund” overseen by the FIFA Foundation charity, federal prosecutors said.

NFL

JAGUARS RB ETIENNE OUT

FOR SEASON WITH LEFT FOOT INJURY >> Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Travis Etienne is out for the season after injuring his left foot in Monday’s preseason loss at New Orleans.

The team said Tuesday that Etienne, a first-round draft pick from Clemson, has a Lisfranc injury. BRANCH, VERMEIL SELECTED AS HALL OF FAME FINALISTS >> Three-time All-Pro receiver Cliff Branch and Super Bowl-winning coach Dick Vermeil are finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2022.

Branch is the senior candidate and Vermeil is the nominee in the coaches category picked by a fiveperson committee of Hall of Fame voters..

College basketball

LOYOLA CHICAGO BASKETBALL PIONEER HARKNESS DIES AT 81 >> Jerry Harkness, who led Loyola Chicago to a barrier-breaking national basketball championship and a was civil rights pioneer, has died. He was 81.

The school announced Harkness passed away Tuesday morning. No other details were provided.

A two-time All-American at Loyola, Harkness was part of the 1963 team that won a national championship.