Former Honduras president Rafael Callejas, who later became a football official, was given a life ban from football yesterday amid the fallout from the scandal which threw FIFA into turmoil last year.
His compatriot Alfredo Hawit, a former FIFA vice-president and former acting president of the CONCACAF confederation which runs the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean, was handed the same sanction.
Both men had pleaded guilty in a US court this year to charges that they participated in bribery schemes which were uncovered by a US investigation into corruption in football.
Wollscheid dropped by Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg have dropped defen-der Philipp Wollscheid for reportedly criticising a member of the Bundesliga club’s coaching staff.
The 27-year-old Germany international, who is currently on loan from Stoke, was excluded from the squad for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and is not expected to return to the side for their final game of 2016 at Borussia Moenchengladbach today.
“He’s currently training individually,” Wolves coach Valerien Ismael said. “It’s one of those things that happens.
“Philipp has apologised and we have had words with him.”
Zlatan likens himself to fine red wine
Man. United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has compared his footballing prowess to a fine red wine that improves with age, with the Swede also claiming he can continue to play for another 15 years.
The 35-year-old has settled well since retiring from the Swedish national team upon leaving PSG to join United at the start of the season, scoring 16 goals in all competitions, 11 of them in the Premier League.
“The older I get, the better I get, like red wine. You like red wine? I’m a perfect example of that,” Ibrahimovic said.
“I’m settling in. I feel happy, I feel good. Even if I’m 35, in my mind I’m 20. I think I could play also at 50, but it’s not down to me.”
Leicester to appeal Vardy dismissal
Leicester will appeal against Jamie Vardy’s red card after the striker was sent off during Saturday’s match with Stoke, Press Association Sport reported.
The 29-year-old was dismissed in the first half of the 2-2 draw after referee Craig Pawson ruled he had fouled Mame Diouf.
Replays suggested Vardy was knocked off balance by Glen Johnson just before making the tackle on Diouf and the Foxes will make their case to the Football Association.
Boss Claudio Ranieri was unhappy with Pawson’s first-half performance and confronted the official on the pitch at half-time but is unlikely to face any further punishment.
Depay will leave United, says Robben
Arjen Robben expects his fellow winger and Netherlands international Memphis Depay to leave Manchester United in the next few weeks.
Depay, 22, joined United from PSV Eindhoven for a reported £25 million fee in 2015 when Louis van Gaal was in charge.
However, he hasn’t made a single Premier League start this term under new boss Jose Mourinho, and only a solitary starting appearance in the EFL Cup at Northampton in September.
“He’s a very talented player,” Netherlands skipper Robben told Goal Deutschland. “It’s a shame that it hasn’t worked out for him yet at Manchester United.
“He hardly ever plays and I expect something to happen shortly. Perhaps he’ll move as early as the winter break.”
Defeats forced me to act – Conte
Back-to-back Premier League defeats by Liverpool and Arsenal in September forced Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to adopt the tactics that have sent his team on an 11-match winning run.
Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Saturday to stretch their lead at the top of the table to seven points and equalled a club record for consecutive Premier League wins.
“Usually when I don’t win it’s very difficult to sleep,” Conte told British media. “After 11 wins, we have a positive pressure that we want to continue.
“I like to win, and to see my teams have two bad defeats I didn’t like this and I tried to find the right solution.
“We found the right solution with the players, to explain that we all deserve better than last season.”
Mikel in Marseille talks says Rohr
John Obi Mikel is in talks to join Marseille after being frozen out at Chelsea, according to Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr.
Mikel, 29, has not featured in a single matchday squad for the Blues this season, having been surpassed in the midfield pecking order by summer signing N’Golo Kante and academy graduate Nathaniel Chalobah.
Chelsea are not expected to offer the Nigeria international an extension to his current contract, which expires next summer.
“I saw Obi Mikel in London,” Rohr said. “He is in advanced discussions with Marseille. He will leave Chelsea for free.”