More Sports in Brief

 

Ban Ki-moon for IOC ethics chair

 

LIMA, Peru (AP):

Former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has been elected chair of the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission.

The South Korean, who served as leader in the U.N. from 2007 through 2016, will take over for Youssoupha Ndiaye.

In his acceptance speech yesterday, Ban called his new task "a serious responsibility."

Among his immediate tasks will be a vote-buying scandal involving last year's Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. A Brazilian IOC member, Carlos Nuzman , is under investigation for his alleged role in a $2 million vote-buying scheme to bring the games to Brazil.

 

Americans drop two places in FIFA rankings

 

ZURICH (AP):

The United States have dropped two places in the FIFA rankings to No. 28 as they struggle to qualify for the World Cup.

In qualifiers this month, the Americans lost 2-0 at home against Costa Rica and then tied 1-1 at Honduras.

The United States are fourth in the CONCACAF qualification standings heading into the final two matches. If the Americans can't take one of the region's three automatic qualification places for Russia next year, they will have to face an Asian confederation team in the playoffs in November.

But even sealing a playoff spot isn't certain, with Honduras only behind the United States on goal difference.

Germany is back at the top of the rankings, taking over from Brazil after a busy World Cup qualifying programme. European champions Portugal are up three places to No. 3, while Argentina fell one to No. 4 and Belgium climbed four places to No. 5.

 

Ticket sales start for 2018 World Cup in Russia

 

MOSCOW (AP):

Ticket sales have started for next year's World Cup in Russia.

Fans can start applying for tickets to any of the 64 games, with prices ranging from US$22 for the cheapest tickets a price available to Russian fans only to US$1,100 for top-level seats at the final.

There's no need to rush with the application, since there's a lottery system for requests. Applications made by October 12 will be collected and buyers picked at random.

Qualifying is still under way and the draw is set for December 1. Russian fans know the dates and locations of their team's group games, but not the opposition.

Another application phase will begin on December 5.

The tournament kicks off June 14 and runs through July 15.