German court rules clubs must cover costs of match-day policing
January 14 – In a landmark ruling, a German court has established that football can be billed for the costs of policing during high-risk matches.
Legal
Court rules bookmaker Esportes da Sorte’s five club sponsorship deals are legal
January 14 – Betting operator Esportes da Sorte will be allowed to maintain their presence in Brazil following a federal court injunction.
CPS reviews evidence of Premier League player accused of multiple rapes
January 9 – The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has begun reviewing a “full file” of evidence submitted by the Metropolitan Police regarding a Premier League footballer accused of multiple counts of rape.
Mission 89 releases Sport Trafficking report calling for tougher legislation and more sports body engagement
January 6 – Following on from the session on sport trafficking held as a side event to the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly Third Committee in New York last November, Mission 89 has released its Global Thematic Report on Sport Trafficking.
Operation Kratos busts multi-country illegal streaming network reaching 22m users
January 3 – A Europol and Bulgarian police-led investigation that saw a pan-European and multi-jurisdiction co-operation, has brought down a network of illegal streaming and IPTV platforms that reached more than 22 million users worldwide.
Amsterdam court jails four for anti-semitic violence at Ajax-Israel’s Maccabi Tel-Aviv
January 2 – Four men have been given jail sentences by an Amsterdam district court for violence around a Europa League match between Ajax and Israel’s Maccabi Tel-Aviv in November.
Spanish court hits illegal streamer Roja Directa with €31.6m fine
December 23 – A commercial court in A Coruña has ordered the website’ Roja Driecta’s s parent company, Puerto 80 Projects, and its director, Igor Seoane, to pay €31.6 million in damages to Grup MediaPro for illegally pirating football broadcasts, including LaLiga matches from the 2014/15 season.
Investigation into alleged Mbappe rape is closed due to ‘insufficient evidence’
December 13 – An investigation into alleged rape and sexual assault which Swedish media said targeted Real Madrid’s French superstar Kylian Mbappe has been closed due to insufficient evidence.
Pogba extortion trial begins in Paris
November 27 – Six men linked to former French international midfield star Paul Pogba, including one of his brothers, went on trial in Paris on Tuesday accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding the player at gunpoint.
Disgraced French FA boss Noel le Great drops defamation case against sports minister
November 22 – The ongoing legal spat between former French FA president Noel le Graet and the country’s sports minister appears to be over.
Fifpro report claiming FIFA is breaking European labour laws is added to EU case
November 21 – A report published by Belgian University Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) and commissioned by global football players’ union Fifpro, has found that professional football is breaking legally required safety standards at both European and global level.
Former South African FA execs say they expect more arrests to come
November 18 – A group of former South African football executives has warned that they expect more arrests after South African FA (Safa) president Danny Jordaan was released on bail last week having been arrested as part of a fraud investigation.
Man City case complicates for Premier League as four clubs lodge compensation placeholder
November 15 – Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly all lodged legal notices reserving the right to claim compensation if Manchester City are found to have breached Premier League financial rules.
Jordaan out on bail after arrest for misuse of SAFA funds
November 14 – South African football boss Danny Jordaan has been released on bail following his arrest in a fraud probe.