Alex Cora: Boston Red Sox sack manager for role in Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal

The Boston Red Sox have sacked manager Alex Cora as a result of his role in the "sign-stealing" scandal during his time as caover Houston Astros bench coach.

Cora, 44, managed the Red Sox to a World Series victory in 2018.

But a Major League Baseball (MLB) investigation into the Astros found he played a key role in the use of a camera to steal signs being given by catchers to pitchers in 2017.

A separate MLB investigation into the Red Sox is yet to conclude.

"This is a sad day for us," the Red Sox said in a statement. "Given the findings and the commissioner's ruling, we collectively decided that it would not be possible for Alex to effectively lead the club going forward and we mutually agreed to part ways."

MLB suspended Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch for a year without pay for their role in the scandal, and the pair were subsequently fired by team owner Jim Crane.

The Astros were also fined $5m (£3.8m), and made to surrender draft picks.

While Cora was mentioned 11 times  บาคาร่า in the nine-page report, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he would defer any disciplinary action on the Boston manager until the ongoing investigation into the Red Sox - over the alleged use of their video replay room to steal signs during their 2018 title-winning season - was completed.

Cora, whose playing career included four seasons with the Red Sox, had been Hinch's number two during 2017, when the Astros won the World Series - before returning to Fenway as manager, where he won baseball's biggest prize again a year later.