UPI NewsTrack Sports

Report: FIFA to investigate Maradina

BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- FIFA will investigate Argentina soccer Coach Maradona for an expletive-laden rant, the BBC reported Friday.

The report said Maradona's comments breached Article 58 of the soccer governing organization's disciplinary code.

The 48-year-old Maradona, Argentina's star during his playing career, faces a minimum five-match ban and a possible fine for the foul-mouthed comments, which were broadcast on live television.

His tirade came after Argentina qualified for the 2010 World Cup finals following its 1-0 win over Uruguay in a match in Cairo Wednesday.

In a statement, FIFA President Sepp Blatter said there was "no alternative" but to ask its disciplinary committee to open a case.

Article 58 says "anyone who offends the dignity of a person or group of persons through contemptuous or discriminatory words or actions concerning race, color, language, religion or origin shall be suspended for at least five matches."

Brazil, Spain top world soccer rankings

NYON, Switzerland, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Brazil and Spain remained atop the FIFA world men's soccer rankings but Portugal's success in World Cup qualifying moved it back into the Top 10.

Brazil is No. 1 for the fourth consecutive month, but No. 2-rated Spain moved within 3 rankings points of regaining the top spot.

FIFA said 147 World Cup qualifying matches and another 45 games were contested in the five weeks since its September rankings were compiled.

Portugal jumped seven places to No. 10 after winning three times and tying once in the last month. Portugal's recent win over Malta put it into a playoff for a 2010 World Cup berth.

The Netherlands is ranked third this month but trails Spain by 289 ratings points. Italy retained its No. 4 ranking. Germany had been tied with Italy but slipped into fifth. Argentina improved from eighth to sixth while England held onto its No. 7 ranking.

Croatia and France each were up one spot to eighth and ninth, respectively.

Russia, which was 2-1-1 during the month, dropped from sixth to 12th.

The FIFA world rankings are determined by points received from match results over a three-year period, with more recent matches given greater weight. Teams also get more points for playing relatively strong opponents.

3 cites seek to host 2018 Winter Games

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Cities in France, Germany and South Korea placed bids to be chosen as the site for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

Annecy, France; Munich, Germany, and PyeongChang, South Korea, met Friday's International Olympic Committee deadline to submit their intention to be considered as host sites for the XXIII Winter Games and XII Paralympic Winter Games.

The IOC will appoint a committee to review each city's potential to carry out the Winter Games. Locations that meet IOC qualifications will enter a phase of the selection process in which officials from the cities submit in-depth reports on their Olympic projects.

The next deadline for the candidate cities is March 15, by which answers to a questionnaire must be submitted to international Olympics officials. The selection process will conclude with a vote in July 2011 during an IOC meeting in South Africa.

The IOC has Winter Games scheduled for 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and 2014 in Sochi, Russia. Summers Games are set for London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Lewis fined for hit on Ochocinco

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis was fined $25,000 by the NFL Friday for a helmet-to-helmet hit last Sunday on Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.

Lewis hit Ochocinco as he went across the middle of the field, knocking the Cincinnati player to the ground and his helmet off. Game officials assessed a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Lewis.

That penalty was one of three called on the Ravens during a fourth-quarter drive that ended in the winning points of the Bengals' 17-14 victory at Baltimore.

Ochocinco earlier this week sent a message via Twitter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking the Lewis not be fined for the play since "it was a clean hit."

The NFL Network said the fine, in addition to being related to the Ochocinco hit, also concerned a play in which Lewis kicked a different Cincinnati player.

ESPN.com said Lewis is expected to appeal the fine.