FIFA’s decision to remove Cornel Borbely, the chairman of the Ethics Committee’s Investigatory Chamber, reportedly came at a convenient time.

According to the Guardian’s David Conn, FIFA ousted Borbely while he was on the trail of Vitaly Mutko – Russia’s deputy prime minister, president of the Football Union of Russia, and member of the Organising Committee for the World Cup. The Swiss lawyer was apparently examining doping allegations when his tenure was terminated in May.

More specifically, Borbely was allegedly investigating the role of Mutko in state-sponsored doping, and was examining the evidence on Russia and the deputy prime minister’s activities.

On Monday, Mutko was excluded by the International Olympic Committee from any participation in all future Olympic Games. The decision was announced as the Russian Olympic Committee was suspended by the IOC for the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system in Russia. FIFA said the decision “has no impact on the preparations for the 2018 World Cup.”

Borbely and Hans-Joachim Eckert, who was employed as the chairman of the Ethics Committee’s Adjudicatory Chamber, were omitted from FIFA’s proposal of the members for its judicial bodies, and replaced by Maria Claudia Rojas and Vassilios Skouris, respectively. Conn reported in June that their omissions took place while Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, was under investigation for more than one alleged instance of malpractice. The chairmen complained they were given zero notice their four-year terms wouldn’t be renewed, and were working on “hundreds of cases.”

According to Conn, Mutko faces a ban from football if FIFA agrees with the World Anti-Doping Agency and IOC.

NFL Nation reporters assess the biggest injuries across the league for Week 14.

NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West

NFC EAST

Linebacker Sean Lee will return to the defense after missing nearly four full games because of a hamstring strain when the Cowboys face the Giants on Sunday, which should be a major boost. In the five full games without Lee this season, the Cowboys have given up an average of 136 yards on the ground and 23.8 points. In the seven games he has played, the Cowboys have allowed 87.7 yards per game on the ground and 18.3 points. While Lee will be back, cornerback Orlando Scandrick will not play because of two transverse process fractures in his back. There are questions about whether right tackle La’el Collins will be available against New York, which would put Byron Bell in the starting lineup. — Todd Archer

Sterling Shepard is back on the injury report, this time with a hamstring injury. It has been that kind of season for the second-year wide receiver. When he’s on the field, he’s productive. But it has been one thing after another this year between his ankle, migraines and hamstring. He’s now in serious doubt for this week’s matchup with the Cowboys. — Jordan Raanan

Tight end Zach Ertz remains in concussion protocol but is doing well and attending meetings, according to coach Doug Pederson, who believes Ertz is experienced enough to play Sunday even if he’s not cleared until later in the week and has to miss most of practice. If he’s unable to go, expect Trey Burton and Brent Celek to have increased roles. — Tim McManus

As usual, the biggest injury questions for Washington are tight end Jordan Reed and left tackle Trent Williams. Reed’s hamstring will likely force him to miss a seventh consecutive game. And while Williams is never quite sure on Wednesday whether he’ll play Sunday, it would be surprising if he ended up sitting. He understands his importance to the team, especially with the Chargers having two excellent pass-rushers in Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa. Tackle Morgan Moses will also be one to watch, but he was walking around fine on his sprained ankles. Like Williams, it’s hard to get him to sit out. — John Keim

NFC NORTH

Three defensive starters sat out practice on Wednesday: outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (shoulder), safety Adrian Amos (hamstring) and nose tackle Eddie Goldman (hip). McPhee was unable to finish last week’s game against San Francisco, and is a real question mark to face the Bengals this Sunday. McPhee hurt his shoulder at the end of last year, which caused him to miss the 2016 regular-season finale. — Jeff Dickerson

The biggest question mark is quarterback Matthew Stafford and his right hand. He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, only doing handoffs in front of reporters. He has also kept the hand covered in almost every public moment around the media. Neither Stafford nor coach Jim Caldwell gave any concrete indication whether Stafford would be fine to play Sunday. Right tackle Rick Wagner (ankle) and right guard T.J. Lang (foot) both missed practice. Considering the offensive line issues, it could be a major problem for a run game that is already one of the worst in the NFL if they’re out. Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (ankle) also missed practice. Thursday will be a massive practice day, and if the Lions are without those four, a must-win game at Tampa Bay just got exceedingly more difficult. — Michael Rothstein

• 

  Will the Packers sneak into a wild-card spot once Aaron Rodgers returns? Can the Raiders upset the Chiefs? Which top running back should you bench for the first round of fantasy playoffs? Our experts weigh in.

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  Jared Goff and the Rams host Carson Wentz and the Eagles this week, as the top two picks in the same draft face off as opposing QBs for just the eighth time in the Super Bowl era. That event also claims FPI top billing for matchup quality in Week 14.

• Rating every head coach’s job security »
• Everything to know about potential openings »

After sitting out last week’s game against the Browns with a knee injury, rookie wide receiver Mike Williams was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Williams ran routes during the early portion of practice open to reporters, wearing a brace on his injured right knee. Coach Anthony Lynn said he will evaluate Williams’ status for Sunday’s game against Washington later in the week. “We would like to have Mike,” Lynn said. “He’s going to be day-to-day. He made some big-time improvements from last week to this week.” — Eric D. Williams

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Not since 2008 has Liverpool progressed to the Champions League knockout stage, and by virtue of Wednesday’s 7-0 drubbing of Spartak Moscow, Jurgen Klopp’s charges joined an esteemed class of sides to make the last 16.

When Rafa Benitez led the Reds to a group stage conquest over Atletico Madrid, Marseille, and PSV in 2008-09, it bookended a five-year spell of continental success for the club that included the stunning come-from-behind victory over AC Milan in the final and a corresponding defeat to I Rossoneri two years later.

Looking back at those squads, Liverpool was a balanced and organised side that profitted from equal parts resolute defending and strong midfield play. What those iterations of the club boasted in defence, Klopp’s current lot offers in offence, with a lethal combination of pace and trickery highlighting a team that counter-attacks at breakneck speed.

Now that Klopp and Co. have ended a a nine-year wait for Champions League progression, here’s a composite starting XI from this year’s entry and the sides that enjoyed European success in 2008-09.

The lineup

Bench: Simon Mignolet; Martin Skrtel, Sami Hyypia; Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana; Roberto Firmino, Dirk Kuyt

Goalkeeper

If Mignolet and Loris Karius have produced erratic performances and provoked continual worry, current Napoli shot-stopper Pepe Reina was a symbol of consistency. During his eight-year Merseyside tenure, Reina made 86 continental appearances, missing out on Jerzy Dudek’s display in the miracle in Istanbul by a year.

Defenders

While Joel Matip has shown flashes of brilliance with Liverpool, it’s not enough to make this hypothetical squad, where Daniel Agger and Jamie Carragher instead team up as a ball-stopping centre-half pairing. Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa sandwich the central defenders with a blend of old-school, studs-up defending and the penchant for streaking forward that’s common in the modern game.

Midfielders

Xabi Alonso. Javier Mascherano. Steven Gerrard. There’s a reason this three-man Liverpool midfield was about as easy to break down as a retaining wall with deeply dug foundations. This trio had a little bit of everything: Mascherano’s ball-stopping skills were world-class, Stevie G could string a delicate pass while blasting measured shots from distance, and there was no midfielder more adept at stringing a long ball than Alonso.

Forwards

Before Chelsea-era Fernando Torres became the poster boy for failures in the absence of confidence, Liverpool goal machine Fernando Torres was one of Europe’s most clinical finishers. Pairing the Spaniard with star wingers Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah would form an unplayable trio in attack that could score any number of ways.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

John Elway said Tuesday that he’s “embarrassed” by the Denver Broncos’ performance this season but he won’t make any in-season coaching changes.

“We’re gonna finish the season out and, you know, obviously we know the expectations of the Denver Broncos,” Elway, president of football operations and general manager for the Broncos, said in a radio interview with Orange & Blue 760. “And this has been a tough year. It’s not what the Broncos are about. I’m embarrassed about it, the fact that this has happened, and will do my part to hopefully get this thing turned around next year, and the expectations of Broncos fans should be for us to get this turned around.”

The Broncos are 3-9 in Vance Joseph’s first season as coach and have lost eight straight games. The losing streak is the franchise’s longest since 1967.

Joseph fired offensive coordinator Mike McCoy last month, and the team has started three different quarterbacks this season.

Trevor Siemian, who was benched last month, regained the starting spot last week after 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch suffered an ankle injury in his only start this season. Brock Osweiler also briefly started this season but was benched due to ineffectiveness.