■AUSTRALIA
Under-17 coach Crook dies
Officials expressed shock yesterday after under-17 coach and former national goalkeeper Martyn Crook died suddenly during a tour to the US. Football Federation Australia (FFA) said Crook, 52, passed away on Friday in Los Angeles, where the team was preparing for three matches against Brazil and the US. Media reports said he died of a heart attack. “We are deeply saddened and shocked by this news,” FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said in a statement, adding that Crook was “highly respected by the players and his professional colleagues alike.” “Martyn will be remembered by many people in the [Australian] football community, because he was a long-time contributor to the game in many capacities,” Buckley said. England-born Crook migrated to Australia as a child with his family, settling in Adelaide. Crook played 192 games as a goalkeeper with West Adelaide from 1977 to 1986 and made 14 appearances for the national team from 1979 to 1983. He was appointed assistant coach with the national under-17 team from 2001, before becoming head coach last year.
■ITALY
Vieira maybe out until 2009
Inter coach Jose Mourinho, announcing that Patrick Vieira’s Achilles tendon injury would rule him out for the next two games, added it was unlikely the French midfielder would be back playing before next year. “In two weeks, 2008 is over,” Mourinho said. “There’s a risk that you won’t see Vieira make his return until next year.” Vieira suffered the injury in training two days after Inter’s 1-0 win over Juventus on Nov. 22.
■CARIBBEAN
Trinidad, Jamaica both win
Errol McFarlane converted two second-half penalties for Trinidad and Tobago as they beat Barbados 2-1 in Caribbean Cup action at Trelawny Stadium on Friday. Gregory Goodridge gave Barbados a 13th-minute lead and McFarlane leveled two minutes after half-time. When Barbados goalkeeper John Michael Williams was penalized and sent off in the 70th minute, McFarlane slotted home the penalty for the win. In the late match, hosts Jamaica thrashed Grenada 4-0 to virtually assure them of a semi-final berth. Forward Eric Vernon opened the scoring after just six minutes and Luton Shelton of Norwegan club Valerenga found the net in the 17th minute. Real Salt Lake midfielder Andy Williams extended the lead in the 53rd minute, before Demar Phillips of English club Stoke City rounded out the scoring in the 77th minute.
■ENGLAND
Five Palace fans jailed
Five Crystal Palace fans were jailed for up to four years on Friday for attacking Charlton Athletic supporters on a train. Prosecutors told a London court that more than 30 Palace fans trapped the Charlton followers on the train in a pre-planned attack before the game between the two neighbors in September last year, chanting “kill them” and “get off our manor”. Clive Taylor, 35, and Ashley White, 21, were jailed for four years, while 40-year-old Carl Thomas received a 38-month sentence and Darren Bush, 39, was sentenced to three years. Andrew Spicer, 38, admitted the charge and was jailed for two-and-a-half years.
■ENGLAND
Dutch friendly announced
England and Holland will begin their respective countdowns to the 2010 World Cup with a friendly in Amsterdam at the start of the 2009-2010 season. The Aug. 12 match was announced on Friday by the Football Association.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping