FIFA defends Valcke, accused of making $10M payment

ZURICH (AP) — A report says the high-ranking FIFA official who allegedly made a $10 million payment central to a U.S. probe into soccer corruption is believed to be Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, Jerome Valcke.

The New York Times reported late Monday that American law enforcement officials believe Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general, transferred the money in 2008 to accounts controlled by Jack Warner, the former CONCACAF president and FIFA vice president who faces corruption charges in the U.S. The report cited unidentified law enforcement officials.

American investigators believe the money was paid as a bribe in exchange for Warner and others voting to give the 2010 World Cup to South Africa.

FIFA defended its second-in-command on Tuesday by trying to distance him from claims he helped authorize $10 million in bribes for World Cup bidding votes.

FIFA said the three payments totaling $10 million mentioned in a U.S. federal indictment, which are at the heart of a Department of Justice probe, were approved in 2007 by Julio Grondona, the former chairman of the finance committee who died last year.

While a FIFA statement did not deny Valcke knew of the payments in 2008, it said neither he “nor any other member of FIFA’s senior management were involved in the initiation, approval and implementation” of the project.

Valcke’s awareness of the $10 million appeared to be confirmed by a letter to him dated March 4, 2008, from then-South African Football Association president Molefi Oliphant. The South African Broadcasting Corporation published the letter.

In it, Oliphant asks Valcke for FIFA to withhold $10 million from South Africa’s World Cup organizing budget and advance it to a fund called “Diaspora Legacy Program.”

Oliphant twice notes that Warner, then Grondona’s deputy on the finance panel, should control the money.

When contacted by The Associated Press last week, Oliphant declined to comment on the bribery allegations made by the DOJ. He did not answer a call seeking comment on Tuesday.

CONCACAF working with DOJ

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — CONCACAF’s acting general secretary said the organization is cooperating with the U.S. Justice Department while it investigates allegations of corruption in FIFA.

U.S. authorities indicted nine soccer officials on corruption charges last week, including the current and past presidents of the regional governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean. Seven men were arrested by Swiss authorities at a luxury hotel in Zurich.

Ted Howard, who became the acting general secretary for CONCACAF on Thursday, said the organization continues to work with the U.S. government.

Bulls to tab ISU’s Hoiberg as HC

CHICAGO (AP) — The Bulls plan to introduce Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg as their new coach on Tuesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Hoiberg had long been rumored as the replacement for Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last week after five seasons in Chicago.

The Bulls said in a release they would make a major announcement Tuesday.

Hoiberg went 115-56 with the Cyclones, including four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles. He had open-heart surgery in April.

Before flying to Chicago to speak with the Bulls, Hoiberg acknowledged that several NBA teams had approached him about their vacancies in recent years.

Cavs’ Irving still slowed by knee

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) — Kyrie Irving is resigned to not being 100 percent for the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

The All-Star guard has been kept out of portions of practice in the past few days as he continues to recover from tendinitis in his left knee, a condition that flared up earlier in the postseason and sidelined him from two games in the Eastern Conference finals.

Irving said he’s continued to receive treatment during the break before Game 1, but he sounded less enthused about his progress than last week when he insisted there were “no ifs and or buts” whether he would play.

UAB football coming back

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — UAB President Ray Watts said he is bringing the football program back as early as 2016, reversing a decision to shut it down because it was too expensive.

Watts cited renewed financial commitment from supporters, students and the city as reasons for the change of heart.

He said donors have pledged to make up the projected $17.2 million deficit over the next five years if football is restored,. Watts told The Associated Press he decided in the morning to reverse the earlier decision after meetings with UAB supporters continued through the weekend.

In addition to reinstating football, Watts said he was also bringing back bowling and rifle. New athletic director Mark Ingram stopped short of guaranteeing 2016, saying only that the goal is to bring football back as soon as possible.

Hynes to be Devils’ next coach

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey general manager Ray Shero has reached into his ties with the Pittsburgh Penguins to pick the Devils’ next head coach, John Hynes, a person with knowledge of the hiring told The Associated Press on Monday night.

Shero has chosen the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach to run the once-proud team that has failed to make the playoffs the past three seasons.

The team plans to introduce the new coach at a news conference Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Hynes has coached the Penguins’ AHL farm team for the past five seasons, making the playoffs each year. He was the AHL’s coach of the year in 2010-11.

New Jersey went 32-36-14 for 78 points this past season, missing the playoffs by 20 points.

Florida tops Michigan in WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Lauren Haeger’s three RBIs helped Florida beat Michigan 3-2 on Monday, moving the Gators within one win of a repeat Women’s College World Series title.

Michigan saw its 28-game win streak snapped. The teams will meet again Tuesday in the best-of-three championship series.

Haeger opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, her third home run of the World Series. In her next at-bat, she doubled in a run to give Florida a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

Michigan’s Abby Ramirez singled in the sixth to score Olivia Richvalsky and Kelsey Susalla and cut Florida’s lead to 3-2.

Michigan had runners at first and third with no outs in the seventh against reliever Delanie Gourley, but did not score.