By Paul Nicholson
December 19 – The European Union, China and Canada all spoke out in support of Qatar’s case against Saudi Arabia at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting today discussing the beoutQ piracy of broadcast programming. All three backed the contention that Qatar had the right to pursue protection of the intellectual copyright through the organisation.
Chelsea are back in the headlines for the conduct of their fans with UEFA confirming it is to investigate the “alleged racist incidents” during the club’s Europa League game at MOL Vidi in Hungary.
December 14 – The reputation of Chelsea supporters as among the worst in English football has plummeted to an all-time low after their own club questioned the “brain power” of some fans following the latest disgraceful scenes of racist abuse.
December 13 – Just days after Afghan Football Federation president Keramuddin Keram was removed from office by the country’s attorney general while allegations of sexual abuse against members of the country’s women’s national team are investigated, FIFA has followed suit by banning him due to the ongoing probe.
December 13 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have partnered to raise the level of Sport Integrity within national governments via a research and profile-building project titled ‘A Business Case for Sport Integrity’.
December 12 – Lord Herman Ouseley is to stand down as chairman of British football’s anti-discrimination group Kick It Out at the end of the season.
By Paul Nicholson
December 11 – The debate over gambling ads in the UK has intensified with League One side Luton Town saying it has rejected sponsorship from betting companies while Sky CEO Stephen van Rooyen (pictured) has argued that banning gambling ads from being broadcast during matches will only drive that marketing spend online.
December 11 – Chelsea have taken immediate action following the foul-mouthed abuse perpetrated towards Manchester City’s England forward Raheem Sterling last weekend by banning four fans pending an investigation.
December 10 – FIFA is to send a delegation to observe the forthcoming and increasingly bitter Zimbabwe football federation elections pencilled in for December 16.
December 10 – Afghan Football Federation president Keramuddin Keram (pictured centre) has been suspended while allegations of sexual abuse against members of the country’s women’s national team are investigated.
December 12 – A week after a banana was thrown by a Tottenham Hotspur fan – inexcusable but a rare occurance in English football – the far more prevalent problem of verbal racism has again reared its ugly head.
September 7 – Former Guatemala football chief and one-time FIFA executive committee member Rafael Salguero avoided a jail term when he was sentenced on Thursday to time served, releasing him from house arrest following his role in the FifaGate corruption scandal.
December 6 – The global condemnation of Saudi Arabia for its role in the brutal murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi appears to have had little effect on top-flight Italian football administrators.
December 6 – British gambling companies have struck a ground-breaking deal which will see the end of their tv adverts during live matches.
December 5 – The Afghan government has now followed the lead of the AFC and FIFA and opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse against the national women’s football. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani called the allegations of abuse by male coaches and officials ‘shocking’.