Fifa: Jack Warner banned for life from football activities

Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has been banned from football for life. The 72-year-old Trinidadian is the former head of Caribbean and North and Central American football (Concacaf), but quit Fifa in 2011. He is fighting extradition to the US on corruption charges and denies accepting millions of dollars in bribes. Warner committed "many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly" said the football world governing body's ethics committee. Fifa's ruling follows its own investigation into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, which began looking at Warner's activities in January 2015. On Tuesday, Fifa said Warner had been found guilty of violating the organisation's code of ethics several times. A statement read: "In his positions as a football official, he was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, as well as other money-making schemes."

Rugby World Cup 2015: Wales make three changes for Fiji

Matthew Morgan will start at full-back in one of three enforced changes for Wales' World Cup game against Fiji. Wing Alex Cuthbert and centre Tyler Morgan also come into the side after Saturday's 28-25 win over England. Matthew Morgan replaces Liam Williams, who has concussion, while Tyler Morgan and Cuthbert are in for Scott Williams and Hallam Amos, who have been ruled out of the tournament with injury. James Hook, called up with Gareth Anscombe as cover, is on the bench. Anscombe does not figure with head coach Warren Gatland saying he was "not 100%". Wales' pack remains unchanged and back-rowers Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau will win their 50th caps. "We have made three changes through injury but go into this game with a strong side," Gatland said. "It is important we build on the success and momentum from last weekend and take that into Thursday." Bristol's Matthew Morgan and Newport Gwent Dragons' Tyler Morgan, who was called into the squad as a replacement for the injured Cory Allen, will make their first starts of the tournament. If Wales, who are second in Pool A behind Australia, beat Fiji they will top the group. England, in third, play the Wallabies on Saturday. Although Fiji have lost their opening two games to England and Australia, the Pacific Islanders caused problems for their rivals and remain a powerful side. "Fiji have performed very well in their opening two games and they will be coming to Cardiff looking to build on that themselves," Gatland added.

Stephen Thompson defends handling of Jackie McNamara's exit from Dundee United

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has defended the way he handled the departure of manager Jackie McNamara. The Tannadice club confirmed their decision on Monday night but it is understood the former Scotland international was told his time was coming to an end immediately after Saturday's 2-1 defeat against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, which took the Terrors' winless run in the Ladbrokes Premiership to seven games. McNamara's father, Jackie senior, a former Celtic and Hibernian player, was quoted as describing Thompson's behaviour as "abysmal" but the Tannadice chairman said: "He was not relieved of his duties on Saturday, whatever he said to anyone after that was up to him. "He was invited to a meeting on Monday. "There's different ways you could handle these things, there's never a right time. Emotions run high in football. "I've seen managers sacked via their agent, a phone call from the chairman to an agent.

"At least I handed Jackie the letter to his face, spoke to him to his face, looked him in the eye. "It wasn't just here you go, 'go give this to Jackie'. I've heard a lot worse ways of managers being handled over the years. "It's not about that, it's about the right decision for Dundee United going forward. "The board have been discussing it (McNamara's position) ongoing for a while, where we were as a club, where we think we should be and the support we've given to the manager. "It's very, very hard on a personal level because as a chairman you build up a relationship with your manager, you speak two, three or four times a day. We're both human beings at the end of the day but as a board we decided it was the right thing for the club. "How you do it or how different clubs do things in different ways, we followed what advice we had from a legal point of view so that's what we did." United have begun their search for a new boss but Thompson will not be looking for a rookie. He said: "I do believe that this club is too big a club for a first managerial appointment. "As chairman, I would not be bringing in someone who has never managed before. "We will take time. There is a lot of emotion going around just now. "You have to think rationally and calmly and get the right person in. We are completely open-minded."