Soccer team gets the boot

MEXICO CITY — Mexican team Leon has been kicked out of the Club World Cup after FIFA’s appeals committee upheld a decision that it violated a rule that forbids multi-club ownership.

Leon and fellow Mexican club Pachuca both qualified for this summer’s Club World Cup in the United States. They have the same owner, Grupo Pachuca.

Before the decision was announced, Grupo Pachuca argued that the clubs operate independently. It also promised to sell Leon but has not done so.

Grupo Pachuca says it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The group says “We will defend what was won on the field.”

History made with IOC election

COSTA NAVARINO, Greece — Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee earlier this week and became the first woman and first African to get perhaps the biggest job in world sports.

“It is a signal that we are truly global,” the Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist said.

It was a stunning first-round win for Coventry in the seven-candidate contest after voting by 97 IOC members.

The 41-year-old Coventry gets an eight-year mandate into 2033 with a likely early test in meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Coventry was asked at a news conference about going to the White House.

“I have been dealing with let’s say difficult,” taking a pause, “men in high positions since I was 20 years old. What I have learned is that communication will be key,” she said.

It was the most open and hard-to-call IOC presidential election in decades with Coventry expected to lead the first round short of an absolute majority. Though several rounds of votes were widely predicted, she got the exact majority of 49 needed.

Lady Cavs up big at NCAAs

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Virginia finished 1-2 in the 50-yard freestyle with Gretchen Walsh winning the event for the second straight year to help the Cavaliers move into first on the team leaderboard in the NCAA women’s swimming and diving championships.

Walsh secured her seventh career national individual championship after beating teammate Claire Curzan with her fourth-fastest time of 20.49 seconds. Walsh now owns the top 10 times in the event.

Virginia also won the 200 freestyle relay for the fourth straight year, highlighted by Gretchen tying her record with a leg time of 20.37.

Virginia ended Day 2 in first with 225 points, followed by Stanford at 178 and Texas 152. The four-day meet at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center continues on Friday.

Houston thinking NHL expansion

The NHL has met with a group led by billionaire Dan Friedkin to discuss its interest in bringing an expansion team to Houston, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed this week in an email to The Associated Press.

Friedkin, who has a net worth of $6.4 billion, according to Forbes, recently bought 98.8% interest in English Premier League club Everton. With his son Ryan, the Houston-based Friedkin Group has investments in the automotive industry, entertainment, hospitality and sports.

A message sent to the Friedkin Group seeking comment was not immediately returned. ESPN reported that Friedkin had become a leading candidate for a franchise if the league decides to expand beyond 32 teams.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly said the league is not currently in a formal expansion process. Multiple groups in Atlanta also expressed interest in giving hockey in Georgia’s capital a third try.

The Associated Press