LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The NCAA Committee of Infractions wants to speak with Arkansas officials before settling a case involving allegations of improper payments by a former booster to football and basketball players, university officials said Monday.

The committee has told the university that it wants the NCAA Enforcement Staff to issue an official letter of inquiry requesting more information from the school about payments to athletes.

The Infractions Committee has tentatively scheduled a hearing for Jan. 18, when it will meet with Arkansas officials. The site for the meeting, which typically lasts one day, has not been set.

When committee meets in January, it will be three years since Arkansas first self-reported possible violations concerning payments from Dallas booster Ted Harrod to Arkansas athletes.

Officials who normally meet with the Infractions Committee include the athletic director, chancellor, members of the school's enforcement staff and coaches of the sports involved. The committee will request who it wants to attend the meeting.

Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles said he would not comment on the investigation, referring questions to Scott Varady, a university lawyer.

"I think obviously we were disappointed the committee did not resolve the case through summary disposition," Varady said. "But we understand their desire to have an in-person hearing with the institution.

"Our only concern is the extended longevity of the case."

The school said some of the money overpaid by Harrod was deferred for payment during the school year, a violation of NCAA rules. Nearly 18 months after the self-reporting, the NCAA informed the school that it would investigate.

According to the report, 20 athletes who worked for Harrod's J&H Truck Service in Dallas were overpaid $4,300 from 1994-99, an average of $215 per player.

In 2000, the university said it was imposing sanctions on itself as a result of an investigation conducted by the university and Southeastern Conference officials into Harrod's activities.

The university has penalized itself eight football scholarships through the 2004-05 academic year. The team will be limited to 83 instead of 85 scholarships through the 2004 season.

The school will lose a basketball scholarship in 2003-04, and reduce from 12 to eight the number of recruit visits for 2002-03. Harrod has been barred from activities benefiting the university.

The university and NCAA enforcement staff submitted a final report on the 32-month investigation with the NCAA Infractions Committee in July.

That report said major violations warranted extension of football scholarship penalties from two to four years. Losing eight football scholarships limits coach Houston Nutt to 83 total scholarships through the 2004 season.