SOCCER

Pele tweets that his health is better than reported

Brazilian great Pele said Thursday he is not seriously ill, easing fears that his health deteriorated while being treated for a urinary tract infection in Sao Paulo.

The 74-year-old used his official Twitter account to deny widespread reports that his condition had worsened and that he was in intensive care.

“I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine,” he said. “I was not put into intensive care today, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy purposes only.”

Pele underwent surgery to remove kidney stones on Nov. 13, but was readmitted to the hospital on Monday after being diagnosed with the urinary tract infection.

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FIFA INVESTIGATION: Five officials, including three long-serving FIFA executive committee members, are being investigated in the corruption probe into the bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

A person familiar with the cases confirmed the names to The Associated Press after the five were identified in European media reports.

The current FIFA board members under investigation are FIFA vice president Angel Maria Villar of Spain, Michel D’Hooghe of Belgium and Worawi Makudi of Thailand.

The others are German great Franz Beckenbauer and Harold Mayne-Nicholls.

EUROPA LEAGUE: Tottenham qualified for the knockout stage after beating Partizan Belgrade 1-0, but faces punishment from organizing body UEFA after the match was briefly suspended because of three separate pitch invasions.

The invasions appeared to be an orchestrated PR campaign, with the individuals entering the field of play wearing shirts with the logo of a Tottenham sponsor.

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GOLF

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Adam Scott shot a 5-under 66 Friday morning, moving back into contention from a shaky position at Sydney.

Scott, tied for third at 2-under, made quick amends for a 74 Thursday that had left him in 82nd.

First-round leader Jordan Spieth of the United States, shot 72 and was tied for the clubhouse lead at 3-under.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who opened with a 69, had an later start.

HOCKEY

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NHL: Filip Forsberg scored at 3:55 of overtime to give the host Nashville Predators a 1-0 victory over Edmonton, handing the Oilers their eighth straight defeat.

Pekka Rinne made 37 saves for the Predators, who have won three straight. He stopped Jordan Eberle on a penalty shot early in overtime.

Viktor Fasth had 24 saves for Edmonton.

Mike Fisher was activated before the game and made his season debut for Nashville after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the offseason.

Edmonton’s Matt Hendricks injured his leg blocking a shot early in the first period and did not return.

 Former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson is expected to announce his retirement in the city where he became an NHL star.

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The Senators confirmed that Alfredsson will be in Ottawa on Dec. 4 and will be part of a ceremony before the team’s game against the Islanders.

Alfredsson spent his first 17 seasons with the Senators, scoring 426 goals and adding 682 assists in 1,178 regular-season games. The Swede played for Detroit last season.

 Stars forward Ryan Garbutt was suspended for two games by the NHL for kneeing Edmonton’s on Tuesday.

Jets forward Adam Lowry received a one-game ban for boarding the Sabres’ Patrick Kaleta on Wednesday.

– From news service reports


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