Coca-Cola, Visa, McDonald's and A-B InBev -- four of FIFA's top sponsors -- "took coordinated aim at the organization’s president, Sepp Blatter, on Friday, calling for him to resign and labeling him an obstacle to reform." Blatter "immediately rejected the demands of the four companies" suggesting that FIFA "saw the public statements as little more than an idle threat." It is "unclear what the companies can do other than express their displeasure through public statements like Friday’s announcements and in private meetings with FIFA’s leadership" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/3).

Meanwhile, adidas "is remaining more loyal -- for now -- with a statement that did not reference the embattled leader of world soccer." Another sponsor, Kia, which has sponsored FIFA with corporate affiliate Hyundai since '99, "would also not discuss Blatter's future" (AP, 10/3).

Ahead of today's Jets-Dolphins game, NFL U.K. Managing Dir Alistair Kirkwood said that while the sport "has 'great momentum,' he does not expect a London team this decade." He added, "We are in a good place but as we become bigger and more ambitious we probably also need to be more cautious and thoughtful too. ... The early kick-offs make it a national game in the States, so the visibility of London and the UK is higher. It also opens up other markets, because it is more timezone friendly in Asia than other games that kick off at normal times" (GUARDIAN, 10/4).

NFL Exec VP/International Mark Waller said of getting a franchise in London by '22, "It's a realistic time frame." He added, "In the next few weeks, we'll decide on adding an extra game, going somewhere else, or both. We feel good about the U.K., but the idea of moving forward with other countries is attractive, too" (NFL.com, 10/2). NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said, "They had considered a couple different places to play games besides London. They considered Germany, but I'm told expect a game in Mexico, in Mexico City, not just in the future but in 2016" (“NFL GameDay First,” NFL Network, 10/4).

This afternoon's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover Int'l Speedway has a "pretty good" chance of being run on time "after a couple of wet days" affected other on-track activities yesterday and Friday (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/4).

Track President & CEO Michael Tatoian insisted that the facility -- "and NASCAR -- will not be going anywhere anytime soon." He said that he "is 'very comfortable' with Dover’s ability to hold onto its valuable spring and fall NASCAR race weekends," hosted every year since '71. The speedway is removing 8,200 seats "perched high over the third turn this winter, but Tatoian promises the track will not remain stagnant" (Smyrna-Clayton SUN-TIMES, 10/4).

Meanwhile, AAA Mid-Atlantic VP & CMO Terry Rubritz said of why the brand entitled today's race, "It’s an automobile-related event so it’s great for our brand. ... Being a sponsor gives us reach into a marketplace that is really our sweet spot" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/2).

Canadian Olympic Committee President Marcel Aubut resigned yesterday after the organization "launched two investigations into allegations of sexual harassment." He initially said that he "would step away from his duties after a complaint had been filed against him to the COC." But since that original complaint, two other women have "come forward with their own allegations against Aubut." The COC Board announced that former Olympian Tricia Smith, now a lawyer and businessperson, will "serve as the interim COC president" (CP, 10/3). The COC also said that its investigation into the complaints against Aubut "will cease" (TORONTO STAR, 10/4).

Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney in last night's on-field interview with ABC right after the school's game vs. Notre Dame "was well into what would prove to be a fairly epic monologue," but the net "abruptly cut away to ESPN’s 'SportsCenter' desk." That "would have been bad enough, but it was quickly apparent that ESPN anchors Jay Harris and Kevin Connors were not only not ready to perform, they were completely unaware that they were on live TV." ABC "ruined what was a memorable, emotional speech by Swinney." ESPN "subsequently posted full video of Swinney’s comments online" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/4).

ESPN Senior Dir of PR Keri Potts in a subsequent tweet wrote, "As a result of an error in TV transmission, we inadvertently missed 12 seconds of Dabo Swinney's postgame interview. We apologize." The moment "made for some awkward television" (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 10/4).

Orlando City SC last night welcomed its "500,000th fan" to the Citrus Bowl in the club's inaugural season, making it the "fastest MLS expansion team to reach the half-million mark." OCSC President & Founder Phil Rawlins said, "It's a real milestone." The match against the Impact drew an "announced crowd of 35,421." The club was "gunning for 45,000 fans, though that was a bit extreme." But the "mere fact it came close was perhaps the ultimate proof soccer has found a huge home in Orlando" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/4).

A "lively crowd of 5,385 turned out at Gila River Arena" last night to witness Arizona State debut as the 60th NCAA D-I men's ice hockey program and the first newcomer since '12. ASU will "play three more games at Gila River Arena this season" including against Yale on Jan. 8 and either Michigan Tech or UConn on Jan. 10, and ASU coach Greg Powers "hopes to double the attendance for those games." The team will play the bulk of its home games at Oceanside Ice Arena in Tempe (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/4).

The Atlanta Fulton County (Ga.) Recreation Authority on Friday "issued a long-awaited request for proposals that will guide redevelopment" of Turner Field. The documents "outline a competitive and sealed bid structure, with bids due by Nov. 20." The chosen developer will "be the one deemed best able to create an 'economic anchor.'" The authority is "seeking a developer who can complete the project within five years" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/3).

An MLB Rangers employee was "fired after a tweet critical" of Univ. of Texas football coach Charlie Strong "appeared on the club's official Twitter account during the Longhorns' blowout loss to TCU" yesterday. The account tweeted "Fire Charlie" during the game. After the tweet "started getting noticed, it was deleted." The Rangers apologized for the tweet in a statement, writing in part, "The tweet was posted by a member of the team's social media department who was neither working for the Rangers nor was at Globe Life Park today. Effective immediately, that individual is no longer employed by the Rangers" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/4). The employee responsible for the tweet "has not been identified" (ESPN.com, 10/3).

Last night's UFC 192 at Toyota Center, which featured a main bout of Daniel Cormier-Alexander Gustafsson, was held before a crowd of 14,626 (ESPN.com, 10/3). Cormier came "out on top in one of the year's best fights" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/3).

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Front Row Motorsports on Friday announced that it has expanded its partnership with Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters. The company will be the primary sponsor for driver Cole Whitt's No. 35 Ford Fusion for today's race at Dover and next week's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (FRM).

Jerry Seinfeld last night "stopped by the SNY booth" during Nationals-Mets at Citi Field and "had some fun at the expense" of broadcaster and former MLBer Keith Hernandez, who endorses a hair-coloring company but is nonetheless sporting gray hairs. Seinfeld said, "Do they mind that you're not using the stuff now? Because clearly you're not using" (NJ.com, 10/4).

Former NFLer Mike Alstott will enter the Buccaneers' Ring of Honor during halftime of today's game versus the Panthers at Raymond James Stadium (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 10/4).

T'Wolves President of Basketball Operations and coach Flip Saunders "is reportedly unlikely to lead the team during the upcoming NBA season as he continues treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 10/2).

“I'm genuinely so excited about today's game. I used to live 20 minutes from Wembley Stadium and I can tell you people would drive from all over the country for these games. Britain loves when the NFL plays there, even though I think only about 3,000 of us understand the rules” – CBS’s “The Late Late Show” host James Corden, on the reception of NFL games in London (“The NFL Today,” CBS, 10/4).

“There’s no room for guns” – Cavaliers F LeBron James, on his support for stricter gun laws (AP, 10/2).

“Jordan, I’m a big NASCAR fan and I’m glad to be here” – A man who impersonated a JR Motorsports crew chief during a press conference at Dover Int’l Speedway, on being asked his identity by a NASCAR spokesperson (AP, 10/3).

NEWSDAY's Neil Best in a lighthearted piece on his 55th birthday wrote he is now "irrelevant to marketers," as they "generally are interested only in reaching humans between 18 and 49, or 25 and 54." Best: "Bye-bye, Budweiser. Farewell, Ford. Hasta la vista, Visa. Adieu, FanDuel."

The N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE's Bruce Schoenfeld writes many in baseball consider Royals manager Ned Yost a "holdover from baseball's Dark Ages, when managers followed their guts on tactical decisions." His "apparent obliviousness to data-based thinking" has made him the "most criticized manager in baseball." Even so, Yost and the Royals "keep winning."

Elsewhere:

• The BUFFALO NEWS examines leagues' "betting interest" and the fantasy "loophole."
• How three Texas women have recently "made it to coaching" in the NBA and NFL.
• A critique of Buffalo networks' TV coverage of the Patrick Kane rape investigation.
• The Red Bulls have proven a "frugal franchise" driven by "'Moneyball'-like analytics."
• Changes "could be on the horizon" for MLB's wild-card format ahead of '16 CBA talks.

@jaybusbee Hi Jay, we apologise but we do not process people at lost-and-found.

— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) October 4, 2015

Pirlo & Lampard at the airport bar watching Chelsea game. Un-athletic American yells "Switch to nascar. Soccer isn't a real sport" AWKWARD 😳

— Mix Diskerud (@MixDiskerud) October 3, 2015

Sure do hope @AustinTheriault is ok. I know the feeling! Prayers r w him for being ok and getting back. Walls and grass...

— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) October 4, 2015

In an airport in upstate NY and watching NFL London game on my smart phone. Kudos to Verizon, the stream and quality are impressive

— daniel kaplan (@dkaplanSBJ) October 4, 2015

Media oddity of working at Wembley: Press box on the opposite side of the TV cameras. So ref faces away from press when announcing penalty.

— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) October 4, 2015

The Sterling name is on the new Clippers court. pic.twitter.com/OVr9vTqO63

— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) October 3, 2015