president Costakis Koutsokoumnis was quoted by state-run radio as

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says theres significant opposition among team owners to continuing participation in the Winter Olympics, and the league is running out of time on negotiations to take part in the 2018 Games.Following a meeting of the leagues Board of Governors on Thursday, Bettman said no decision was made regarding Olympics participation in 2018 in South Korea.I think its fair to say that there is some strong negative sentiment in the room, Bettman said. But nothing was decided today.NHL players have competed in the past five Winter Olympics dating to 1998 and want to continue taking part, but owners are concerned about the midseason interruption and injury risk.Bettman said his recent proposal to the NHL Players Association regarding an extension of the collective bargaining agreement in return for Olympic participation was part of a larger discussion about hockeys international calendar.That discussion morphed into, `Maybe we should be talking about a long-term international schedule with predictability, Bettman said. If you look at the calendar and you play it out in the logical sequences of the way these events get played, we said if you look at the calendar and get rid of the (CBA) reopeners and you extend by three years, that gets you two Olympics, two World Cups and two Ryder Cups.Such an agreement would ensure nine years of labor peace, but players rejected the proposal.In other matters, the league gave owners a range for next seasons salary cap. Bettman projected it would remain flat or increase by about $2 million.The NHL does not intend to reconsider the name or logo of the Las Vegas expansion franchise after U.S. patent authorities denied the clubs trademark request, deputy commissioner Bill Daly said.Its much ado about nothing, Daly said. The franchise will go forward with that name and that logo. We have every expectation well ultimately get that registration.Bettman has said a decision regarding the Olympics needs to be made by early January, giving the league time to create its 2017-18 schedule with or without a two-plus week break for the Olympics.The Board of Governors meetings conclude Friday. Custom Football Jerseys China . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. Wholesale Custom Jerseys Free Shipping . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.customjerseyschina.com/ . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Cheap Custom T-shirts China . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Discount Custom Jerseys Online . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Cyprus Football Association is vowing to impose severe penalties on clubs suspected of match-fixing after UEFA ranked the countrys championship to be among the worst offenders in Europe.Marios Lefkaritis, the associations honorary president and a UEFA vice president, said that he was ashamed and shocked when told by UEFA of the problems extent.He said UEFA suspects six first-division matches and a domestic cup match may have been fixed since September. The Cyprus FA has received files on 75 matches suspected of being fixed since 2011, Lefkaritis said.Were among the top three or four countries that have the most matches suspected of being fixed, Lefkaritis told The Associated Press. It ceases to be a suspicion and becomes extremely worrying when you have a file sent to you about a suspected fixed match almost every week.Lefkaritis said most of the betting on the matches under suspicion has taken place in Asia. He believes that only those participating in the match can determine its outcome.The people who do the job are the players and the referees, who else? No one else can do this, Lefkaritis said.Cyprus FA president Costakis Koutsokoumnis was quoted by state-run radio as saying thatt hes aware of one player who has been implicated in nine matches suspected of being fixed.ddddddddddddHe also said that he regretted allowing a team suspected of being involved in match-fixing to be elevated to the first division this year.In an ad hoc general assembly meeting on Monday, the Cyprus FA said penalties would mirror those recommended by UEFA. They could include an initial heavy fine for a suspected first offense, followed by a point loss for a second and relegation for a third.Teams suspected of match-fixing a fourth time would incur a lengthy ban. Cyprus FA board members will agree on the specifics at their next meeting.We have to act right away, Koutsokoumnis told the assembly. Weve reached the tipping point. Soon well have neither sponsors, fans or even a championship.Cyprus football has been dogged by corruption allegations in recent years. Moreover, several bomb attacks against referees cars and properties have occurred.Cyprus justice minister, Ionas Nicolaou, said legislation is in the pipeline that will help police investigators prosecute match-fixing cases. ' ' '