FIFA President Sepp Blatter is set to open today's FIFA Congress in Zurich and is "expected to win Friday's vote" for re-election. The governing body "hasn't shown any signs it would postpone the election, despite calls from UEFA" to delay it for up to six months in the wake of the recent arrests. Blatter "canceled a scheduled appearance at FIFA’s medical conference" earlier today. His "only public statement on the investigations" was a message released last night on FIFA’s website (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/28). Blatter today led an "emergency meeting" to address the situation (NYTIMES.com, 5/28).

UEFA reportedly "will not boycott" the FIFA Congress, as the European body today "backed down from its threatened boycott" (AP, 5/28). Blatter is not expected to attend today's "meeting of UEFA's member association heads" (ESPNFC.us, 5/28).

The FIFA scandal was on the front page of many major newspapers across the U.S. this morning. The N.Y. Times included an above-the-fold flow chart detailing the organization's "power structure," while the L.A. Times includes the pictures of seven of the officials indicted with the headline, "'World Cup Of Fraud' Rocks Top Soccer Body." The Philadelphia Inquirer simply goes with "World Cup Of Fraud" with a picture of FIFA spokesperson Walter De Gregorio hanging his head during a press conference. The San Diego Union-Tribune goes with a hand holding a red card that reads, "14 FIFA Bosses Indicted In Probe."

K.C. Star: "U.S.: FIFA Case Will Grow"
Miami Herald: "Soccer Under Siege"
Newark Star-Ledger: "'It's Amazing It Took This Long'"
USA Today: "Global Soccer Corruption Case Has Roots In U.S."
Wall Street Journal: "Soccer's Geyser Of Cash"
Washington Post: "14 Charged In Soccer Corruption Probe"

The scandal is also the subject of editorial cartoons for the San Diego Union-Tribune and Sacramento Bee.

Meanwhile, all three nightly network news shows reported on the scandal within the first eight minutes of their telecasts, teasing the reports in the opening segment. ABC aired the headline “Foul Ball,” while CBS used “Soccer Scandal” and NBC had “Bombshell Scandal” as its tease headline. ABC’s Brian Ross aired a taped report, while CBS’ Jim Axelrod also had a taped report that included comments from ChangeFIFA co-Dir & General Counsel David Larkin. NBC’s Peter Alexander had a taped report that included appearances by SI Assistant Managing Editor Mark Mravic and NBCSN’s Roger Bennett. “GMA” and “CBS This Morning” aired reports on FIFA in the first nine minutes of their broadcasts – ABC had just a news brief, while CBS aired a taped report that included commentary from Fox Sports’ Alexi Lalas. NBCSN's Bennett appeared live in-studio later in the CBS broadcast. NBC's “Today” did not air any reports on FIFA in the first two hours (THE DAILY).

Celtics co-Owner & Managing Partner Steve Pagliuca, the new Chair of Boston '24, emerged from meetings yesterday at IOC HQ in Lausanne, Switzerland, "'heartened' by the IOC's emphasis on reforms intended to help Olympic bid cities and hosts control costs." He said, "They are very serious about making the Games sustainable." As part of the new guidelines, the IOC "promised to promote the 'maximum use' of existing facilities and temporary sports venues" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).

Meanwhile, opponents of Boston's bid yesterday "seized on published reports" to suggest that the bid committee "has been disingenuous in its longstanding promise of a privately funded Olympics." The documents, obtained and published by the Boston Business Journal, indicate that Boston '24 "had proposed that the City of Boston finance land acquisition and infrastructure costs at Widett Circle, site of a proposed temporary Olympic stadium, by issuing tax increment financing bonds" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).

The Big 12 today at its spring meetings in Irving, Texas, is expected to announce the sites for its '17-20 men's and women's basketball tournaments. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has said that the "vote for future basketball and baseball championship sites will occur on the day of the announcement." The men’s tourney has been played in K.C. in 14 of the 19 years of the Big 12, and is to be played at Sprint Center next year. Dallas and Oklahoma City are "among others that have bid" for basketball events (K.C. STAR, 5/28).

The St. Petersburg City Council today will meet again to "discuss the Tampa Bay Rays stadium stalemate." Team officials "won't be there," but St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman "will attend the workshop." One "new possible wrinkle in the saga" is "somehow tying the potentially lucrative future of the Tropicana Field property to the economically distressed poor neighborhoods to its south" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/28).

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre today is meeting with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in N.Y. "in an attempt to revive the city's sagging profile by luring back a big-league franchise." Coderre said that "several prospective sites have been scoped" for a potential MLB ballpark. In recent years, a "renewed interest in big-league ball has been sparked by the Montreal Baseball Project" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 5/28).

As the '15 Intersport Brand Engagement Summit heads into Day 2 in Chicago, top CMOs from CDW, NBC Sports and United Airlines line the agenda, with a solid session to end the event talking about the state of athlete endorsements. During dinners and drinks last night, people were still buzzing about Day 1 speakers Kevin Plank and John McDonough, while appreciating the humor behind Quinn Kilbury's presentation and videos from Heineken and Newcastle.

Some buzz is expected today over Visa’s strongly-worded statement on FIFA this morning. Via BBC Sports Editor Dan Roan: "VISA, FIFA sponsor, statement: 'Our disappointment and concern with FIFA .. is profound…we expect FIFA to take swift and immediate steps.'"

A hearing originally scheduled for today on a "lawsuit about the use of city tax dollars" for a new $985M NFL stadium in St. Louis "has been canceled, and will be rescheduled later." Circuit Judge David Dowd is "under the weather" (STLTODAY.com, 5/27).

Sinclair Broadcast Group announced that it has signed a national broadcast deal with Discovery Communications' Destination America for Sinclair's pro wrestling promotion, Ring of Honor (Sinclair Broadcast Group).

Chevrolet runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Juan Pablo Montoya for winning the '15 Indianapolis 500: "Dominance Is Built Brick By Brick" (THE DAILY).

"That was the only wish I had. It's just that the security is more alert. They don't need to change anything, that we need to have fences and all that stuff, not at all" – Tennis player Roger Federer, on security at the French Open after a fan ran onto the court Sunday to take a selfie with him (ESPN.com, 5/27).

"We want to be in that conversation and eventually we want to be viewed as one of the autonomy conferences, that's our ultimate goal" – AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco, on seeking to put his conference on par with the Power Five (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/28).

“The Raptors will have a D-League team playing in the Greater Toronto Area this next year” – MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke, on the NBA franchise’s efforts to land a farm team (TORONTO SUN, 4/28).

“Anytime you can pack the stands, well that must be a racetrack we should go to more often” – NASCAR driver Joey Logano, on whether New Hampshire Motor Speedway should keep its two Sprint Cup Series races (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/28).

The London INDEPENDENT noted it is a "good job" for soccer that the U.S. – "a country so often maligned and mocked for its late adoption of the sport – has emerged so spectacularly on its side." The DESERET NEWS runs with the header, "Salt Lake Olympic Scandal 'Set A Precedent' For U.S. Prosecution Of FIFA." The N.Y. TIMES details the scene at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, where the arrests were made. FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.com writes a "comprehensive investigation" might find FIFA's sctructure "makes soccer vulnerable to corruption." 

Former CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer is featured in several profiles, with the N.Y. POST describing him as a "high-living fat cat" who "went to work for the FBI rather than face tax-fraud charges." The N.Y. TIMES writes faced with legal difficulties, Blazer "became a cooperating witness, a knowing insider whose testimony helped lead investigators through the murky world of international soccer." YAHOO SPORTS runs with the header, "Meet The American Informant In The FBI's Investigation Of FIFA Corruption."

Outside The FIFA Scandal:

• Phillies GM Amaro made a dumb comment, but he has brains.
• New Las Vegas arena will keep city as a basketball epicenter.
• NBA should “clean up its rule book” to increase entertainment value.
• Wizards, Mystics Owner Ted Leonsis defends his teams’ use of analytics.
• Are big-money regional TV deals, like that of the Dodgers, bad for baseball?
• The "uneasy marriage" of military money going to the NFL.
• Can the Patriots organization be trusted going forward?

Last night’s 2:00am ET editions of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and FS1’s “Fox Sports Live” led with Warriors-Rockets and Ducks-Blackhawks. ESPN reported on the French Open at about 25 minutes into the broadcast and on the ongoing FIFA scandal at 51 minutes. FS1 reported on FIFA about 19 minutes into its telecast but did not report on the French Open during the hour broadcast.

ESPN’s Ryen Russillo filled in for Keith Olbermann last night and did not air a "world’s worst persons in sports" segment.

Predictably, the media is WAY overblowing FIFA scandal by painting sponsor statements as a precursor to a mass exodus. Not happening, folks.

— J.W. Cannon (@cannonjw) May 28, 2015

How many sponsors and tv companies would stay contracted to a World Cup without Germany, England, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands etc?

— Simon Evans (@sgevans) May 28, 2015

Will the USA be voting in favour of Sepp Blatter's re-election tomorrow as they did last time ? They surely can not.

— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) May 28, 2015

Is @BobLeyESPN’s beard trending? My feed is thick with beard talk.

— Dan Levy (@DanLevyThinks) May 28, 2015

Man, how great it would be to see Chris Farley play the role of Riley Curry in a Saturday Night Live press conference sketch.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) May 28, 2015

NBA Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive and California Gov. Jerry Brown are among those invited to speak on issues facing the state at the 90th annual Sacramento Host Breakfast.

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Governors.”

“Governors of adjacent states, these two ex-prosecutors are also adjacent on an alphabetical list of governors.”

Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart: “American soccer fans have stood by while the media obsesses over other sports’ crimes and scandals. Well now finally, soccer is getting its perp walk.” The broadcast aired footage of FIFA officials being arrested, with Stewart saying, “It looks to me like they’re going to jail for all the money they STOLE!” Stewart said FIFA “is so bad, they got arrested by the Swiss, a country whose official policy on Nazi gold was, and I quote, ‘We’ll allow it.’” Stewart asked, “What did the FIFA guys do? Please don’t say the balls were underinflated because that would be a real crime. … You know you’re corrupt when the indictment ends with ‘and so on’” (“The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Comedy Central, 5/27).

“Who are N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo?”