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sports Diahuebs 21 OctOber 2021

FIFA drive for biennial World Cup stalls; no December vote

(AP) — FIFA’s drive to get said at a news conference af- on athlete welfare.
approval in December for ter chairing a meeting of FI-
holding World Cups every FA’s ruling Council. “We have received some le-
two years stalled Wednes- gitimate criticism,” Infantino
day, one day after its presi- Infantino’s comment about acknowledged. “When you
dent met with fierce resis- exploring “what other kinds are in the middle of all of that
tance from European soc- of events we can create” was a it’s a little bit like a referee in
cer leaders. further hint that staging extra a riot going on in a match.
World Cups has not reached
Gianni Infantino instead an- the broad agreement he aims “I’m just calling everyone to
nounced FIFA would host a for. be calm and rational about
remote “global summit” on it,” he said.
Dec. 20 to discuss the future Sustained opposition from
of international soccer and European soccer body UEFA Infantino has said FIFA or-
“try to reach a consensus.” — including threats to boy- ganizing a men’s or wom-
cott future World Cups and en’s World Cup every year
That fell short of staging an veiled warnings by some of is important to attract young
extra congress of 211 mem- its members to leave FIFA — fans, give more countries
ber federations which could was joined last weekend by a the chance to qualify and schedule, including domestic The Europeans made clear
formally vote on the planned rare IOC statement explicitly fund development globally leagues and their own suc- biennial World Cups were
biennial World Cups for men criticizing an Olympic sport. to close the gap on European cessful international compe- unacceptable, and one day
and women in which Infan- and South American domi- titions for national and club later Infantino seemed to re-
tino has invested his and FI- The International Olympic nance. teams. lent by insisting FIFA must
FA’s political capital. Committee said FIFA was try to reach consensus.
chasing extra revenue while UEFA and South American “Everyone has taken note of
“It is really important to lis- crowding other sports from soccer body CONMEBOL the position of Europe,” said “How this consensus will
ten to all the legitimate ques- the sports calendar, promot- have resisted the plans. They Infantino, who had a heated look like, we will see,” he
tions … and to see how we ing men’s soccer that would cited the risk of overloading online meeting Tuesday with said. “For me, everything is
can adjust the proposals that overshadow the women’s players and disrupting the leaders of UEFA and its 55 open. Maybe we make one
have been made,” Infantino game and putting extra strain balance of soccer’s global member federations. step forward and one back.”

Wake’s Clawson, Pitt’s Pickett top AP’s midyear ACC honors

(AP) - Wake Forest has Now in his eighth year, buzz with rising NFL draft tributor. The defensive back falling out of the poll before
turned years of steady Clawson has led the Demon stock, ranking eighth in the has two interceptions and 19 October.
winning into a potential Deacons to five straight bowl Bowl Subdivision ranks by tackles while starting all sev-
breakthrough moment in games with a plan built on throwing for 322.3 yards en games this year. HOTTEST SEAT
the Atlantic Coast Con- developing ready-to-contrib- per game and fourth with The pressure is growing on
ference, while Pittsburgh ute veterans over time rather 21 touchdown throws while MOST SURPRISING Miami’s Manny Diaz and
has made a leap behind than just annually plugging throwing just one intercep- PLAYER Virginia Tech’s Justin Fuente.
the rise of quarterback in five-star recruits. They tion for the Panthers (5-1, The surprise with Virginia
Kenny Pickett. returned all but a handful of 2-0). quarterback Brennan Arm- The Hurricanes (2-4, 0-2)
starters, creating an experi- strong has been just how were ranked No. 14 in the
They headline Wednesday’s enced and deeper roster that “He’s made himself a lot of much he has elevated his preseason and projected as
list of midseason honorees in generally avoids self-inflicted money coming back, I can game. the top Coastal challenger to
the league from The Associ- damage. tell you that,” Pitt coach Pat UNC. But Miami has its first
ated Press. Narduzzi said after Pickett’s The fourth-year junior ranks 2-4 start since 1997 when the
“The good thing about hav- four-TD game at Georgia second in FBS by throwing program faced NCAA pro-
With his 16th-ranked De- ing depth is there’s more in- Tech. for 403.4 yards per game, bation and scholarship limi-
mon Deacons unbeaten, ternal competition,” Claw- including a program-record tations. And Diaz sits at 16-
Dave Clawson is the unani- son said. “And then ... guys “He’s just a smart football 554 yards – most by any FBS 14 in three seasons with the
mous choice as the ACC’s have got to practice harder player. It takes time to get player this year -- in a loss Hurricanes.
top coach through the sea- because they if don’t practice that where you want it to be. at North Carolina. By com-
son’s first half in voting by harder, they’re not going to He’s put the work in and he parison, Armstrong averaged Fuente’s Hokies (3-3, 1-1)
AP writers covering league play. So these are actually the deserves what he’s getting 235.2 yards passing last year. are 41-29 in six seasons, in-
teams. Pickett was voted the easier years to coach.” right now.” cluding the team going 5-6
league’s top offensive player MOST DISAPPOINTING last year and opting out of the
thus far for the 23rd-ranked Maybe so, but Clawson has As the league pushes into the TEAM postseason to end a 27-year
Panthers. made the right moves with a schedule’s second half, here North Carolina is the top bowl streak.
team picked to finish fifth in are some of the ACC’s best, choice in a year with multiple
In addition, Wake Forest was the seven-team Atlantic Divi- worst and most notable de- options in six-time reigning BIGGEST INJURY
picked as the most surprising sion. velopments after voting by league champion Clemson Diaz’s job only grew tougher
team so far, with Pittsburgh AP writers: and Miami, with all three with a season-ending shoul-
as runner-up. The Demon Deacons are unranked. der injury for D’Eriq King.
6-0 for the first time since TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER The sixth-year dual-threat
1944 – nine years before the Virginia Tech defensive back Mack Brown’s Tar Heels (4- quarterback was hurt in the
ACC was formed – and 4-0 Jermaine Waller is tied for the 3, 3-3) opened with a No. second half of a Week 3 loss
in ACC play for the first time FBS lead with four intercep- 10 ranking as the Coastal to Michigan State, with the
ever. They’re also the league’s tions. The fourth-year junior Division favorite with the team holding out hope until
highest-ranked team in an has helped the Hokies rank return of star quarterback last week that King could re-
unusually wide-open league third in the league in passing- Sam Howell and a veteran cover through rehabilitation
race featuring the Panthers efficiency defense. offensive line. But they’ve instead of surgery.
and No. 18 North Carolina struggled to protect Howell
State. TOP FRESHMAN and overcome the losses of King threw for 2,686 yards
Syracuse defensive back Dar- big-play threats Javonte Wil- and 23 scores while running
A fifth-year senior, Pickett ian “Duce” Chestnut has liams, Michael Carter and for 538 yards and four TDs
has stirred Heisman Trophy become an immediate con- Dyami Brown to the NFL, in 2020.