BRIEFLY : OFFICERS IN IRVIN CASE CORRUPT?

An officer accused of making a down payment to have Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin killed reportedly turned first to a man trusted by several officers who were under investigation for police corruption.

The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday that the man was an informant who tipped off police about the incident and put officer Johnnie Hernandez in touch with the ``hit man,'' an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent.

Sources told the newspaper the corruption investigation was being made into allegations that several police officers were suspected of providing protection for cocaine dealers.

The DEA and Dallas police began investigating the allegations months before the March 4 incident at an Irving hotel that led to drug charges against Irvin. Police say the investigation is continuing.

Frank Perez, Hernandez's attorney, said he doesn't know about the police corruption investigation or his client's possible involvement.

``I don't know anything about that,'' Perez said. ``As far as I know, they told me no other officers were being investigated. I just can't believe that's accurate.''

Police allege Hernandez paid the ``hit man'' about 10 percent of a $30,000 contract to have Irvin killed.

SOCCER FIFA, soccer's world governing body, expanded its executive committee by giving more seats to Asia, Africa and Oceania.

The move represents a victory for FIFA president Joao Havelange and a setback for Lennart Johansson, head of the European soccer association (UEFA), which will now have less clout on the executive committee.

Havelange and Johansson have come into conflict several times in the past two years. Despite opposition from Havelange, UEFA forced a FIFA rule change last month that will allow South Korea and Japan to co-host the 2002 World Cup.

NFL  Baltimore Ravens receiver Andre Rison has rejected the team's request to lower his salary by $1 million and add incentive clauses, according to his agent.

The Ravens need to free up money under the league's salary cap. The Ravens are only $79,000 under the cap and need at least $3 million to sign their seven rookies, including No. 1 draft picks Jonathan Ogden of UCLA and Ray Lewis of Miami.