FIFA revises Disciplinary and Ethics codes with a focus on sexual abuse and match-fixing

February 3 – FIFA has beefed up its integrity regulations with new editions of its Disciplinary Code and Code of Ethics. Although the new rules were passed by the FIFA Council on December 20, they only came into force on February 1.

Key among the new rules are making sexual abuse, harassment and exploitation not subject to a time limitation; allowing victims to become parties to relevant proceedings and enjoy all procedural rights; and strengthening match-fixing investigations with the appointment of an independent integrity expert.

FIFA summed up the key changes as”

‘1. provide greater protection to victims of discrimination and sexual abuse or harassment by:

  • ensuring that, from now on, all forms of sexual abuse, harassment and exploitation are not subject to a limitation period for prosecution;
  • considering them to be parties to the relevant proceedings, who enjoy all procedural rights, such as that of being notified of the relevant decision and being entitled to appeal it; and
  • obligating member associations and confederations to notify FIFA of any decisions rendered on sexual abuse and match-fixing.
  1. strengthen investigations into match-fixing and other ethics matters by:
  • appointing an independent integrity expert to carry out investigation tasks and duties and coordinate with public enforcement authorities to assess any potential offences, and subsequently proposing any potential appropriate disciplinary measures.
  1. better guarantee financial justice in relation to the failure by a party to comply with a decision of FIFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport by: 
  • extending a transfer ban on clubs imposed by the FIFA Football Tribunal when it appears that debtors have still not complied with said decision;
  • ordering the party to pay an annual interest rate of 18% for unpaid debts in certain conditions; and
  • lifting a transfer ban imposed on debtors when debtors provide FIFA with reliable evidence of having complied with its financial obligations.”

Follow the links to the new editions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code and Code of Ethics.

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