MLS gaining in diversity

Major League Soccer is increasingly using more international players and employing more women in its corporate offices, improving its grades in an annual diversity study released Wednesday.

MLS earned a C+ for gender hiring practices on a report card issued by the University of Central Florida's Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport in Miami. Last year, its researchers gave pro soccer a D+ in that category.

Study author and institute director Richard Lapchick credited MLS' efforts to improve diversity and high numbers of racial minorities in executive positions in giving the sport an overall B+. The report used data from the 2007 season, updating through Aug. 13 its owners, head coaches, team presidents and general managers.

Lapchick said MLS "demonstrated a remarkable rebound in gender hiring."

The percentage of international players jumped 10 points from 2006 to 2007, from 21 percent of the total to 31 percent. There were 201 white players in 2007, one more than the previous year, but the number of black players increased from 57 to 74.

FIFA TO EXTEND COMPULSORY HEART TESTING: FIFA plans to extend a heart-testing program to all players at international tournaments, including junior championships, after four players died from undiagnosed heart problems last season. The testing began at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

BRAZILIAN STARS SELECTED IN WOMEN'S DRAFT: Brazil stars Marta, Daniela and Cristiane were selected in the first round of the Women's Professional Soccer international draft Wednesday. Marta, considered the best player in the world, was taken by Los Angeles, Daniela went to St. Louis and Cristiane was chosen by Chicago. In all, 10 Brazilians were chosen. Also selected were players from England, Australia, Japan, Sweden, Canada, France, China and Iceland.