SOCCER

Cameroon investigates match-fixing charges — Cameroon’s soccer federation announced late Monday that it would investigate its team for possible match fixing, paying particular attention to a lopsided loss to Croatia in the opening round. The federation, which has long been at odds with its players over a payment dispute, began the investigation on its own after the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel noted that a notorious match-fixer, Wilson Raj Perumal, had accurately predicted both the 4-0 score and the first-half ejection of a Cameroon player on his Facebook page. But Monday, Perumal issued a denial in The Telegraph of Britain that he had ever predicted the score or the red card, casting doubt on the basis for the investigation.

HOCKEY

Top players already off the board — NHL teams quickly snatched up the best players available in free agency, giving Paul Stastny, Jarome Iginla and Ryan Miller new homes in the league. When the market opened Tuesday, teams tried to make a splash to improve their rosters and fire up fans. Stastny cashed in, signing a $28 million, four-year contract with the St. Louis Blues, leaving the Central Division rival Colorado Avalanche. The Avs found someone to score in Stastny’s place, picking up an aging player who has proven he’s still got it. Iginla was given a three-year, $16 million deal on Tuesday, his 37th birthday. The wing had 30 goals to tie for the most in Boston last season. After trading away Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, the Vancouver Canucks gave goaltender Miller a three-year deal worth $18 million. The Washington Capitals also made a big splash . The Caps bolstered the blue line behind superstar Alex Ovechkin and gave defense-minded coach Barry Trotz the pieces he sought to build a winner. Washington signed defenseman Matt Niskanen to a seven-year, $40.25 million contract soon after sealing a $27.5 million, five-year deal with defenseman Brooks Orpik.

—From wire reports