Roy Keane ruled out of Celtic job

LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) — Roy Keane has taken himself out of contention to be the next manager at Celtic and will continue as the assistant coach for the Ireland national team.

The Football Association of Ireland released a statement yesterday saying Keane “decided not to pursue informal talks that took place with Celtic any further”. The former Manchester United player met with ‘Hoops’ majority shareholder Dermot Desmond last week, but talks never reached the point of a formal job offer, according to the Press Association.

Keane was thought to be the front-runner for the job, with former West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clark among the other leading candidates.

Kings defeat Blackhawks to reach Stanley Cup final

CHICAGO, United States (AFP) — The Los Angeles Kings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime on Sunday to book a Stanley Cup hockey final showdown with the New York Rangers.

Alec Martinez scored 5:47 into overtime to lift the Kings to victory and a four-games-tothree triumph over the reigning NHL champions Chicago in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals. Martinez’s shot from the left point hit Blackhawks defenceman Nick Leddy and got past goaltender Corey Crawford.

The Kings became the first team in NHL history to win three game-sevens on the road in one post-season. Chicago’s exit leaves the Detroit Red Wings as the last team to win back-to-back NHL titles, in 1997 and 1998.

Austria players, Iran officials hit by FIFA

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) — FIFA has confirmed the worldwide extension of sanctions imposed on players and officials from Austria and Iran found guilty of manipulating matches.

Dominique Taboga was given a lifetime ban and countryman Thomas Zundel was given a 12- month suspension by the Austrian federation for trying to rig matches in the domestic league.

In Iran, coach Mohammad Reza Molaei and referee Mohsen Ghahreman had been handed bans of six and eight months, respectively, after being charged with a series of offences including corruption, unsporting behaviour and illegal relations in a case relating to a match of the Iran Pro League.

FIFA said in a statement yesterday that both the Austrian and Iranian federations have been notified about the sanctions.

Lambert joins Liverpool from Southampton

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) — Liverpool confirmed yesterday they have completed the transfer of England striker Rickie Lambert from Southampton.

The former Reds trainee underwent a medical on Saturday after a fee of 4million ($6.7 million, 4.9 million euros) was agreed with the Saints. He is understood to have signed a two-year contract.

Lambert has emerged as an important squad player for England and is a member of the 23-man World Cup squad for the tournament in Brazil.

“I can’t believe it. I’ve loved this club all my life. I left here 17 years ago — and I haven’t stopped loving it since,” the 32-year-old said.

Senanayake reported for suspect bowling action

LONDON, England (AFP) — Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed yesterday.

Senanayake, who has twice recorded career-best figures in the ongoing Royal London series against England, was reported by umpires Ian Gould and Marais Erasmus at the end of his team’s One-Day International victory at Lord’s on Saturday.

“The umpires’ report cited concerns over a number of deliveries that were considered to be suspect,” an ICC press release read.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, named their squad yesterday afternoon for the two-Test series against England, from which Senanayake is omitted. The 29-year-old made his Test debut, and won his solitary cap to date, five months ago.

De Villiers, Amla are front-runners for South Africa Test captaincy

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Star batsmen AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla are the leading candidates to succeed Graeme Smith as South Africa’s Test captain.

Cricket South Africa’s board meets in Johannesburg today to make what is seen as a crucial decision after a decade of Smith at the helm. Smith captained South Africa in a world-record 109 Tests before announcing his retirement during the third and final Test against Australia in March.

The national selectors will table their recommendation for the captaincy, but the final decision will be made by the board. The first assignment of the new captain will be to lead South Africa in two Tests in Sri Lanka during July. De Villiers, 30, was vice-captain under Smith and is the One-Day International (ODI) skipper.

He has led the side in 40 ODI games. He had no prior captaincy experience. Amla, 31, captained the South African team at the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand in 2002 and was appointed captain of the Dolphins franchise early in his first-class career.

Faf du Plessis, 29, who captains the national Twenty20 team, is a third candidate and has displayed the most natural flair for captaincy.

But his relative lack of experience — he has played in only 14 Tests — could count against him. His supporters would point out, however, that Smith was made captain after only eight Tests.