Former CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb yesterday "pleaded not guilty" at an arraignment in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn to charges that he had "solicited bribes to parcel out lucrative soccer media and marketing deals." Webb was released on $10M bail and "will remain under house arrest" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/19). Meanwhile, the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has launched a civil probe "examining the behaviour of several companies with links to FIFA or other soccer bodies" to determine if there "were possible violations of U.S. federal bribery laws" (REUTERS, 7/17).

Elsewhere, FIFA President Sepp Blatter today was set to host UEFA President Michel Platini and soccer's other continental presidents in their "first formal meeting" since Blatter announced he would leave office. The closed-door meeting at FIFA HQ "helps prepare" for an exec committee session tomorrow (AP, 7/19).

Hudson Pacific Properties President, CEO & Chair Victor Coleman, thought to be a prospective Seattle NHL owner, "will not submit an expansion bid by the league's mandated deadline" tomorrow, according to sources. One source said that Coleman's group "wanted to finalize the arena site before submitting an application." The league set the Monday deadline "in the first 'phase' of the expansion process, and has told prospective groups it will require a down payment in addition to the application." Sources have confirmed that the payment consists of $10M, with $2M "non-refundable" (KING5.com, 7/17).

Japan "will reopen bidding for a new plan" to build the main stadium for the '20 Tokyo Games "in a stunning reversal that leaves the 2019 Rugby World Cup without a main venue." The "huge cost of the stadium went against" the IOC's Olympic Agenda 2020 reform program (AP, 7/17). The cost for the stadium "ballooned to more than" $2B, which would have made it "by far the most expensive Olympic stadium, and probably the costliest sports venue, in history." Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: "The current plan will go back to being a blank sheet of paper" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/18).

The British Open continues today at St. Andrews in Scotland after the event was delayed by more than three hours due to rain on Friday and by more than 10 hours yesterday due to high winds. As a result of the delays, Round 2 was completed yesterday, Round 3 is underway today and Round 4 will be played tomorrow. ESPN will carry tomorrow's final round live, with the telecast beginning at 6:00am ET. Tomorrow will mark the British Open's first Monday finish since '88 (THE DAILY).

A ceremony was held last night in the atrium at Lambeau Field as Brett Favre had his No. 4 jersey retired by the Packers and was inducted into the team's HOF. In addition to those attending the banquet, "some 67,000 people" watched on the videoboards inside the stadium. Prior to the banquet, Favre entered the stadium to a "5-minute ovation," and the crowd "cheered almost everything Favre said during his 17-minute visit to the 50-yard line" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/19). Favre: "It was like I never left. It was a great feeling" (ESPN.com, 7/18).

EPL club Manchester United opened its '15 preseason Friday night before "an announced crowd of 46,857" at CenturyLink Field for its Int'l Champions Cup Match against Liga MX side Club America (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/18). ESPN FC offers a look at the growth of ManU's preseason tours, which have become "more lucrative" over the years (ESPNFC.com, 7/18).

Meanwhile, Baltimore "evolved into a soccer haven" for two CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal games yesterday, as a crowd of 37,994 "packed into M&T Bank Stadium" for U.S.-Cuba and Jamaica-Haiti. USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann: "It’s a growing soccer city. ... We’d love to come back" (Baltimore SUN, 7/19).

U.S. women's national team players Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris were "in attendance but not in uniform" last night as their NWSL club, the Washington Spirit, defeated the Seattle Reign in front of a "sold-out crowd" of 5,413. The crowd at the Maryland SoccerPlex marked "the most fans ever at a Sprit game and only the second sellout in franchise history" (USATODAY.com, 7/18).

Meanwhile, a "packed house of 3,560" was on hand yesterday for the first NWSL Chicago Red Stars home game for USWNT members Shannon Boxx, Lori Chalupny, Julie Johnston and Christen Press since the World Cup (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/19).

The NCAA "asked the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday to delay an injunction that starting Aug. 1 would allow schools to offer future payments to football and men's basketball players" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/17).

Cubs 3B Kris Bryant "agreed to a multiyear autograph and memorabilia exclusive with Fanatics," marking the signing of "one of the most highly coveted free agents in the sports memorabilia market" (ESPN.com, 7/18).

A power failure at Nationals Park on Friday night "caused by a faulty circuit breaker" delayed the evening's Dodgers-Nationals game until yesterday. The game was "the first in Nationals history to be suspended for a reason other than weather" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/18).

The '05 World Series champion White Sox yesterday were honored before the team faced the Royals at U.S. Cellular Field. The players "gathered around chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for a team portrait" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/19).

Ligue I side Paris Saint-Germain last night beat Primeira Liga club Benfica 3-2 in front of "an announced crowd of 17,843" at BMO Field. Earlier in the day at the stadium, Toronto FC beat the Union 2-1 before 25,032 (TORONTO STAR, 7/19).

USL club Sacramento Republic FC last night lost to EPL club Newcastle United 1-0 "in front of an announced sellout crowd of 11,442 at Bonney Field" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/19).

A crowd of 9,245 last night watched boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defeat Marcos Reyes at Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas (ESPN.com, 7/18).

"Read each tweet about 95 times before sending it" – Texans DE J.J. Watt, speaking to a group of high-school athletes on how reputations can be ruined quickly on social media (ESPN.com, 7/17).

"The final thing I did was I stood up in front of them and I said, ‘Are there any leaders in here? Are there any leaders in here?’" – FSU President John Thrasher, on his 20-minute meeting last week with the school's controversy-ridden football team (TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT 7/18).

"We used to never say a word about slowing the cars down, because fans don’t want to hear that we’re slowing the cars down. It was considered not being macho or a tough driver, not being fierce. ... A lot of it was ignorance" – NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., on how the culture of safety in NASCAR has changed over the years (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/19).

"The best thing for the sport ... would be a Nationals-Angels World Series. Give them the stage” – N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica, on the rising stardom of Angels CF Mike Trout and Nationals RF Bryce Harper (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN2, 7/19).

The BOSTON HERALD's Mark Murphy writes under the header, "Las Vegas Poised To Attract Pro Team, And NBA Ready To Strike." After "years of flirtations and disappointments, Las Vegas is on the cusp of its first major professional sports franchise." All that is "needed is an opportunity, now that the city has been green lighted" by the NHL and NBA.

The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts wrote those connected to the Pan Am Games "promise the legacy of world-class facilities left behind will be worth" the C$2.4B investment. Toronto Mayor John Tory "points to the lasting value of venues such as the athletes' village, which will become a housing and retail development."

Elsewhere:

• How New Hampshire Motor Speedway has become a "racing gem" over 25 years.
• Opportunities grow for fans to "occasionally splurge" on suites at sporting events.
• MLB execs still "wary of ruining the vantage point of fans" with added safety netting.
• Charter flights make Indiana's recruiting expenses "by far the highest" in the Big Ten.
• L.A. TIMES: "MLS' Complicated Pay Structure Means Teams Have To Get Creative."
• Part 3 of the MIAMI HERALD's series on how fans consume sports media.

Florida State bans players from bars. U of Miami unveils its uniforms in Club Liv. Just observing.

— Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) July 18, 2015

Great job by @KingJames in @TrainwreckMovie, real funny!

— Steve Lauletta (@slauletta) July 18, 2015

Sad news about the passing of Van Miller. Will always be the voice of the #bills for me. #OneBuffalo

— Brian Gionta (@Giostyle21) July 18, 2015

Under Armour is having a good day at The Open. With Spieth and Dunne sharing the lead & decked out in UA, they are all over the broadcast

— Greg McElroy (@GVMcElroy) July 19, 2015