Sporting briefs

Taiwo: Nigeria international Taye Taiwo has been summoned to a May 5 hearing by National Ethics Council (CNE) to explain his foul-mouthed outburst at the League Cup final. Taiwo scored the winning goal as league champions Marseille beat Montpellier 1-0 to win the trophy last weekend. But moments after the triumph the big defender went from hero to villain as he grabbed a microphone and unleashed a verbal volley at Marseille’s bitter league rivals Paris Saint Germain.

Zuma: South African President Jacob Zuma was to bestow his country’s highest award on Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and World Cup organisers yesterday, his office said. Zuma was due to present the National Orders at a ceremony in Pretoria to honour “citizens and members of the international community who have contributed meaningfully in making our country what it is today,” said a statement from the president’s office.

Ireland: Newcastle midfielder Stephen Ireland has been ruled out of the final four games of the season with an ankle injury. The on-loan Aston Villa man sustained the problem during Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Blackpool. The Magpies confirmed that he will be unavailable for the remainder of the campaign after having the injury assessed by the medical staff.

Vermaelen: Thomas Vermaelen is set to make his long-awaited return from injury in Arsenal’s reserve match against Manchester United today. Vermaelen has been given the green light to play in the match at Altrincham after almost eight months out with an Achilles injury that defied treatment.

English Premiership: Fulham 3 (Dempsey 15, 48; Hangeland 65) Bolton 0.

Ligue 1: Lyon vs Montpellier 3-2; Marseille vs Nice 4-2.

MFA Div. II/III SF: Sta Venera vs Rabat 1-2.

Motor Racing: Formula One outfit Team Lotus confirmed it had purchased British sportscar manufacturer Caterham Cars yesterday, vowing to develop the next generation of the company’s iconic Seven model. The Seven, designed by Lotus founder Colin Chapman in 1957, has been manufactured by Caterham since 1973, when the company acquired the rights to the legendary two-seater roadster. Team Lotus chiefs Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin said in a statement the deal would take Caterham to “exciting new horizons”.

Cricket: Former England coach Duncan Fletcher was yesterday appointed as India’s new cricket coach, board officials announced, three weeks after the country won the World Cup on home soil. India had been on the look-out to replace former South African batsman Gary Kirsten who stepped down from the role following his success in guiding the cricket-crazy nation to victory. Fletcher has signed a two-year contract.

Rugby Union: South Africa’s World Cup-winning coach Jake White was yesterday appointed head coach of Australia’s ACT Brumbies Super 15 team. White will take over from Tony Rea, installed as interim head coach following the sacking in March of Andy Friend, at the end of the current campaign. White, who led South Africa to the 2007 World Cup title, had a 67 per cent success rate from his 54 internationals as Springboks coach from 2004.

Boxing: NFL defensive back Tom Zbikowski, unbeaten in four pro boxing fights, tested positive for marijuana before a victory but was clean in an independent drug test, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Zbikowski, a safety for the Baltimore Ravens, was among five fighters suspended for 45 days for failing a drug test taken before his knockout of Blake Warner last Saturday at a casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation Boxing Commission banned the fighters pending a second negative test of the samples.