Rupert Murdoch’s media empire is under the spotlight.

As detailed by the Guardian’s Oliver Laughland and Jon Swaine, bribes for the rights to televise football were allegedly paid with the “agreement and support” of senior executives at 21st Century Fox, as documents and testimony forming parts of the corruption scandal engulfing FIFA placed the executives in meetings with corrupt officials.

Three men were named in a previously unreported court filing:

• Carlos Martinez, chief executive of Fox Networks in Latin America
• Hernan Lopez, former head of Fox International Channels
• James Ganley, former chief operating officer at Fox Pan American Sports

The court filing, which was detailed by the United States Department of Justice and shielded the identities of certain organisations and individuals, alleged that Martinez, Lopez, and Ganley were involved in a bribery-for-broadcasting-rights scheme. Prosecutors said multimillion-dollar payments helped T&T Sports Marketing Limited obtain the lucrative rights to the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American equivalent of the Champions League.

T&T Sports Marketing Limited – an affiliate of Torneos y Competencias CA, an Argentinian sports marketing company that admitted to paying tens of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to a high-ranking FIFA official – was listed as a subsidiary by 21st Century Fox in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Government documents showed its investment in the company stretches back to 2002.

Torneos y Competencias CA entered into a four-year deferred prosecution in 2016, agreeing to over $112.8 million in forfeiture and criminal penalties, while agreeing to cooperate fully with the government’s ongoing investigation. At the time, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that “Torneos paid the bribes and kickbacks with the agreement and support of the U.S. broadcasting company affiliates and their representatives, including three high-ranking officials.”

Fox Sports declared it “did not not participate in any wrongdoing” and is “vigorously defending” the complaint.

Lopez’s lawyers stated: “Mr. Lopez built his entire career on a foundation of respect and integrity, and he never authorised or was aware of any improper payments on his watch.”

Ganley’s lawyers claimed: “Mr. Ganley has a well-earned reputation as a highly accomplished and ethical business executive. He has never been involved in any wrongdoing, and has never been accused of wrongdoing. Any contention to the contrary is flatly false.”

Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Company is set to acquire 21st Century Fox for approximately $52.4 billion in stock.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Robert Woods believes his previously sprained left shoulder has passed every test, even though the shoulder has yet to go through the rigors of a traditional practice. The Los Angeles Rams’ standout wide receiver will take part in full-speed practices Thursday and Friday, but he is already certain that he will play in the upcoming road game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“I’m ready for Sunday,” Woods said shortly after the Rams’ walk-through on Wednesday. “I’ve been waiting on this.”

Woods has missed the last three games with his shoulder injury, suffered after absorbing a tackle from safety Harrison Smith late in the Nov. 19 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Woods, 25, initially feared surgery, but MRI results revealed a need for only a short rehabilitation process.

“Very grateful that I didn’t need surgery, that I didn’t hit anything,” Woods said. “I was looking at Aaron Rodgers’ injury. He broke his [collarbone]. Fortunately, mine wasn’t broken; just a little injury there.”

Woods, who came over on a five-year, $34 million contract, has compiled 47 catches for 703 yards and 4 touchdowns. He led Rams receivers in basically every category when he was hurt, but the Rams have averaged 31 points in the games that he has missed, with Josh Reynolds picking up Woods’ snaps at receiver.

Still, Rams coach Sean McVay called Woods’ return “a big boost.”

“He’s been such a great player for us, great person, all the things that you’re looking for,” McVay said. “Certainly, we have a lot of confidence in our receiving group, but getting Robert back gives us a boost. We’re a better team when Robert is on the field.”

The Rams recently lost cornerback Kayvon Webster for the rest of this season with a ruptured Achilles tendon, but outside linebacker Connor Barwin will join Woods in returning this week. So will left tackle Andrew Whitworth, right tackle Rob Havenstein and cornerback Trumaine Johnson, all of whom exited Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles early with injuries.

The stage is set for the next phase of the Champions League following Monday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland.

There will be some mouthwatering matchups, with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid highlighting the round of 16, and Chelsea and Barcelona set to revive a rivalry that’s been dormant for five years.

Here are the top storylines that emerged from the round of 16 draw:

Chelsea, Barcelona to reignite fiery rivalry

Barcelona’s reward for winning its group-stage match is a date with a familiar foe, as the Catalan side will get reacquainted with Chelsea in the round of 16.

The rivalry between the clubs goes back almost 20 years, when the Premier League side first qualified for the Champions League in 1999. But it was their clash in 2009 that had Chelsea players fuming after a series of penalty shouts were ignored by match official Tom Henning Ovrebo, who was confronted by an irate Didier Drogba. “It’s a f—ing disgrace,” the Ivorian yelled, and was subsequently banned for three matches.

Yet, perhaps the most memorable moment occurred in the last meeting, five years ago, when Fernando Torres’ dramatic winner helped secure Chelsea’s place in the Champions League final and triggered an outburst from match commentator Gary Neville.

The two-leg encounter will also mark a return to the Camp Nou for Spanish internationals Cesc Fabregas and Pedro.

PSG can’t catch a break in round of 16

Paris Saint-Germain will face yet another epic test when Unai Emery’s men take on defending Champions League titleholder Real Madrid a year after Barcelona’s stunning come-from-behind victory in the round of 16.

Despite the difficult draw, headlined by Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, officials from the French side have been positive as the club attempts to atone for last season’s collapse.

“The team will be ready,” Emery said, according to Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC. “We will show how great this team is and that we are at the level of those who can win the Champions League.”

There’s no doubt, though, that PSG would have preferred an easier matchup in the first phase of the knockout rounds considering the team’s insatiable hunger to win the Champions League.

Aside from the high-profile bout, speculation over Neymar’s future is likely to dominate headlines in the buildup to the first leg in February following reports linking the Brazilian with a future transfer to Real Madrid.

Doesn’t get much easier for Manchester City

The bookies’ favourite to win the Champions League was handed one of the most forgiving draws of the round of 16, as Manchester City was paired with FC Basel.

On the heels of City’s derby victory over Manchester United, its streak of good luck continued Monday, as the Premier League side managed to avoid difficult pairings with Bayern Munich, Juventus, Sevilla, FC Porto, and Real Madrid.

Manager Pep Guardiola won’t let his side overlook the challenge that awaits it in Switzerland, especially after last season’s matchup with AS Monaco, fuelled by the emergence of teenage prodigy Kylian Mbappe, resulted in the defending Ligue 1 champion upsetting City over two legs.

Uncharted territory

Three of the five English teams that progressed to the round of 16 face the difficult challenge of conquering the unknown.

Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham will be pitted against teams that they’ve never encountered in a competitive match, with clashes against FC Basel, Sevilla, and Juventus, respectively, awaiting the Premier League clubs.

Tottenham has arguably the most difficult matchup of the five English teams in the knockout phase, while Manchester United will be tasked with getting past a Sevilla side that bowed out of the Champions League last term after a narrow loss to Leicester City.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

NEW YORK — A visit by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to New York’s Rikers Island jail facility has drawn criticism from the union representing city correction officers.

Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem last season to raise awareness to issues affecting minorities in the United States, leading to similar actions by other NFL players and repeated criticism from President Donald Trump.

The head of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association said in a statement that Kaepernick’s presence at Rikers on Tuesday will encourage inmates to attack jail guards. The statement also noted that Kaepernick once wore socks depicting police as cartoon pigs.

The union was critical of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Cynthia Brann for extending an invitation to Kaepernick.

Department of Correction spokesman Peter Thorne said in a statement that the purpose of Kaepernick’s visit was to “share a message of hope and inspiration.”

At the prison, Kaepernick held two 45-minute sessions with small groups of inmates at the jail’s George Motchan Detention Center. He spoke about social justice issues and talked about his decision to kneel during the national anthem.

“No cameras. No promotion. He’s just helping turn around lives many people have given up on,” a spokesperson for the mayor said. “He’s the real deal.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.