New tell-all book rocks soccer

MILAN — Former Parma midfielder Matias Almeyda has made astonishing revelations about match-fixing and doping in Italy in his autobiography.

The ex-Argentina international, in his book Almeyda: Life and Soul, claims he was given what he now believes were drugs while at Parma from 2000-02.

“At Parma we were given an IV drip before games,” Almeyda said, in extracts printed by Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. “They said it was a mixture of vitamins but before entering the field I was able to jump up as high as the ceiling.

“Players do not ask questions, but then in the following years there are cases of former players dying from heart problems, suffering from muscular issues and more. I think it is the consequence of the things that have been given to them.”

One of the biggest shocks of the book — especially following the latest matchfixing scandal to hit Italian football — is Almeyda’s revelations that Roma players asked their Parma counterparts to throw a decisive match between the two clubs at the end of the 2000-01 season. Roma won 3-1 and edged out Juventus for the Serie A title.

“Some Parma teammates told us that the Roma players wanted us to lose the game. That as we weren’t playing for anything, it was the same,” Almeyda said. “I said no and the majority responded that way. But on the field I saw that some were not running as they always did. So I asked to be substituted and went into the changing room. Money? I do not know, they called it a favor.”

Paris hosts statue of head-butting PARIS — The historic head-butt that marked the end of France great Zinedine Zidane’s international football career is now more than just a memory.

A 5-meter-high bronze statue portraying Zidane aiming his shaven head at Italian opponent Marco Materazzi’s torso has been erected in front of Paris’ Centre Pompidou modern art museum.

African Cup tickets on sale JOHANNESBURG — South Africa was the latest African Cup of Nations host to face the challenge of filling stadiums with the continent’s generally poor football fans as tickets for next year’s tournament went on sale.

Attendances at the African Cup are notoriously poor and the last version in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea was hurt by images of empty seats at some games.

Cagliari to open stadium ROME — Cagliari has been given permission to open its new stadium to fans, three days after its home game against Roma was called off.

Italy’s National Observatory on Sports Events gave the green light Wednesday following an earlier inspection.

Russian cities await decision ZURICH — Russia has given FIFA a technical report analyzing 13 cities that want to host 2018 World Cup matches.

FIFA says Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko and local organizing committee chief executive Alexei Sorokin presented the report to President Sepp Blatter. Eleven cities will be chosen.

FIFA gives $1M to South Sudan ZURICH — FIFA is to give $1 million to the South Sudan football federation to help its newest member build a headquarters in capital city Juba.

South Sudan was accepted as the 209th FIFA member in May and played its first recognized international match several weeks later, drawing 2-2 with visiting Uganda to be currently ranked No. 197th.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Pac-12, Big 12 could face best NEW YORK — A tentative plan for the new college football postseason calls for a Pac-12 or Big 12 team to face the best team from a group of five conferences, including the Big East.

A person with direct knowledge of the plan for the four-team playoff in 2014 told The Associated Press that either a Pac-12 or a Big 12 team likely will be the opponent for the top-rated champion from the Big East, Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference.

Quarterback leaves Penn St. STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State is down another quarterback after coach Bill O’Brien said that backup Paul Jones had left the team for personal reasons.

The rocket-armed sophomore, once a highly touted recruit, had slipped behind true freshman Steven Bench to third string. Senior Matt McGloin is the entrenched starter.

UNC can’t keep secrets RALEIGH, N.C. — A judge has issued an order for North Carolina to provide media outlets with unredacted documents regarding football players who committed NCAA violations for receiving improper benefits.

Superior Court Judge Howard E. Manning Jr. issued the order Wednesday, which formalizes his decision from last month. PRO BASKETBALL Mercury eyes Griner BRISTOL, Conn. — The Phoenix Mercury won the WNBA draft lottery Wednesday night and earned the right to choose Brittney Griner with the top pick next year.

Chicago will pick second and Tulsa third. Washington, which had the worst record in the league will pick fourth. The Mystics (5-29) had a 44 percent chance to win the top pick.

Arthur breaks leg MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur will be out up to six weeks after breaking the top of the fibula in his left leg preparing for training camp.

TENNIS Sharapova reaches quarterfinals TOKYO — Two-time champion Maria Sharapova overpowered Lucie Safarova 6-2, 7-6 (5) to advance to the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals.

Sharapova coasted through the first set and led 3-0 before Safarova mounted a comeback, breaking Sharapova three times to take a 6-5 lead. She broke Safarova in the final game to force a tiebreaker, which she won with an ace after 1 hour, 43 minutes.

Sharapova will next face Australia’s Sam Stosur, who beat Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-4, 7-5.

Monfils beats Anderson BANGKOK — Gael Monfils played another strong match in his return from a knee injury, beating qualifier Kevin Anderson 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 to reach the second round of the Thailand Open.

Davydenko advances KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Nikolay Davydenko beat lucky loser Sanam Singh 7-5, 6-4 in the first round of the Malaysian Open.

TRACK & FIELD Richards-Ross has surgery Four-time Olympic gold medalist runner Sanya Richards-Ross is recovering from toe surgery.

Richards-Ross posted on her Twitter page that she had surgery Tuesday to alleviate pain in her right big toe. She says the severe pain has “progressively gotten worse every season.” She adds that she should have had the procedure done years ago, but “kept waiting until after the Olympics.”

She expects to be running without pain soon.

Moses voted USADA board chair COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Former track great Edwin Moses has been voted chair of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s board of directors.

USADA said that Moses was selected to fill the chair position at the Sept. 13 board meeting. Moses succeeds founding board member Dr. Richard Cohen, who is rotating off the board because of terms limits.