Sexy football, sexy time? Argentine FA apologise for sexist gaffe
May 17 – The Argentine Football Association has apologised for the publication of a World Cup manual that included advice on how to seduce Russian women.
Category: Integrity
European stakeholders refuse to be railroaded into Infantino’s $25bn calendar shake-up
May 17 – Europe’s leading football stakeholders have joined forces to oppose Gianni Infantino’s plans to radically change the game’s global landscape by saying they have “serious reservations about the process” surrounding his proposal to enlarge the Club World Cup to 24 teams and create a biennial global Nations League.
SIGA readies for Geneva forum as it reflects on 100 days of battling for sport integrity
May 17 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) will hold the fourth edition of its SIGA Sport Integrity Forum and General Assembly at the United Nations, in Geneva, on July 26-27.
World Cup ref Al Mirdasi banned after offering to fix Saudi cup final
May 16 – A World Cup-bound Saudi referee chosen by FIFA has been banned for life at home for a matchfixing attempt just days before he was due to fly to Russia.
US opens up sports betting market nationally ending Nevada-only sports betting law
By Paul Nicholson
May 15 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled yesterday (Monday) that the federal law banning sports betting was unconstitutional, paving the way for the legalisation of sports betting across the US.
El Haddadi loses appeal to switch nationality to Morocco for 2018 World Cup finals
May 15 – On-loan Deportivo Alaves forward Munir El Haddadi has lost his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to switch national allegiance from Spain to Morocco ahead of the World Cup.
Photoshoot bombed as CAS extends doping ban to rule Guerrero out of World Cup
May 15 – Peru’s joy has quickly turned to disappointment after captain Paolo Guerrero was ruled out of the World Cup after his doping ban, which had just expired, was increased from six to 14 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
SIGA Expert Summit: Anti-matchfixers call for criminal regulation to fight tsumani of fixers
By Paul Nicholson
May 10 – The battle against betting related match-fixing needs to be stepped up with stronger regulation and real co-operation between the anti-matchfixing stakeholders, was the overriding message from the first SIGA Expert Summit on Sports Betting, Integrity and Media that closed in Porto, Portugal, this week.
Paraguayan all-clear for 89-year-old Leoz extradition, but US must now wait for final appeal
May 9 – More than six months after a judge in Paraguay authorised the extradition to the United States of former Conmebol boss Nicolás Leoz, alleged to have been one of the masterminds in the FIFAGate corruption scandal but who has so far managed to escape the clutches of US prosecutors, now appears to be closer than ever to finally being brought to justice.
Russian racism: A few monkeys doesn’t make a troop, rules FIFA
May 9 – Just five weeks before the start of the World Cup, FIFA has given Russia a symbolic wrap over the knuckles by fining the Russian soccer federation CHF30,000 ($30,000) after fans racially abused French players during a recent game in St. Petersburg.
SIGA launch action plan against child abuse in sport at Miami special session
May 1 – Following a special session organised by the Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) at the Miami Dade College in Florida, USA, SIGA has launched an action plan against abuse, smuggling and trafficking of children and young people in sport.
Brand Messi wins trademark court battle as Massi told to get on its bike
April 27 – In an important case that could potentially have implications for player image rights, a European court has ruled that Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi, can trademark his own name for use on sports and clothing equipment.
Leeds United owner Radrizzani defends Myanmar as destination for post-season tour
April 26 – Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani has defended the club’s decision to play two post-season friendlies in Myanmar, saying the decision to play there is about people, not governments.
FIFA reform guru and Congo FA boss Omari released on bail over $1m embezzlement probe
By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Constant Omari, the Democratic Republic of Congo football association president and one-time FIFA reform official arrested as part of an embezzlement probe in his country, has been released on bail for health reasons after being held for 21 hours.
Is Liverpool drowning in a foul Tibet Water deal?
By Paul Nicholson
April 20 – Liverpool’s controversial sponsorship partnership with Tibet Water is refusing to stay out the headlines with a group of 25 English MPs having written to the club asking them to end their deal.