COBI JONES SUSPENDED BY FIFA.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Midfielder Cobi Jones was suspended for the United States' next two World Cup qualifiers because of an ejection earlier this year.

FIFA, soccer's governing body in Zurich, Switzerland, also fined Jones $2,800 for his actions in a World Cup qualifier at Honduras on March 28.

The red card meant that Jones automatically was suspended for the Americans' qualifier against Costa Rica on April 25. FIFA's decision Friday means Jones can't play at Jamaica on June 16 and against Trinidad and Tobago on June 20 at Foxboro, Mass.

The United States leads the final round of qualifying in the North and Central American and Caribbean region at 3-0.

A FIFA spokesman said the decision has been appealed.

--Galaxy defender Paul Caligiuri has been offered the men's and women's coaching positions at Cal Poly Pomona, the school announced in a press release. Caligiuri, through a Galaxy spokesman, did not comment.

--Werner Fricker, who as president of the U.S. Soccer Federation led the bid that brought the 1994 World Cup to the United States, has died at 65 after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Fricker was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic soccer team and was elected USSF president in 1984.

BASKETBALL: Kentucky star Tayshaun Prince, last season's SEC Player of the Year, intends to withdraw his name from the NBA draft and return to school for his senior season.

--Aaron Matthews, suspended indefinitely by Villanova in February for an unspecified violation, will transfer to another school. The 6-foot-6 sophomore started 21 games for the Wildcats and averaged 5.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.

--Phoenix Mercury star Brandy Reed, the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season, was suspended indefinitely by the WNBA team for undisclosed reasons.

TENNIS: UCLA senior Jean-Noel Grinda and sophomore Jean-Julien Rojer were named Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Americans.

FOOTBALL: Defensive end Jeremiah Parker, who is accused with his girlfriend of aggravated manslaughter in the death of her 4-year-old son, was waived by the New York Giants.

The 6-5, 270-pounder out of Cal is free on bail while his 19-year-old girlfriend, Tauleah Kelly, remains jailed.

Each accuses the other of abuse that led to the May 14 death of 4-year-old Elijah Kelly. Each is charged with aggravated manslaughter and child abuse.

--After months of attempting to agree on a long-term contract, starting linebacker Shawn Barber signed a one-year, $1.115 million deal with the Washington Redskins.

--The Arizona Cardinals withdrew a $512,000 tender offer to defensive end Andre Wadsworth, severing their ties to the last member of a group that had the potential of being one of the NFL's best defensive lines.

Wadsworth was the No. 3 pick in the 1998 draft. But he only played one full season after developing knee problems in 1999.

--The Florida Citrus Bowl has locked up its conference tie-ins with the SEC and Big Ten for another four years and has increased its payout to $4.25 million per team, more than any postseason game outside the Bowl Championship Series.

HOCKEY: Gordie Roberts was fired as director of player development of the Phoenix Coyotes, the third person to leave the team's front office since Steve Ellman and Wayne Gretzky came in as owners in mid February.