Belgian authorities chase €121m of tax debt from clubs
October 3 – Belgian football is facing a significant financial challenge as tax authorities are demanding the repayment of €121.2 million from the industry.
Legal
All bets off for Sorare as Premier League partner is charged with unlicensed gaming in UK
September 27 – The fantasy sports platform, Sorare, and official partner of the Premier League has been charged by the UK Gambling Commission.
Mallorca court issues suspended jail sentence and fines in two cases of racist abuse
September 27 – LaLiga says it will continue its battle against racism through the Spanish courts after two more Spanish fans in Mallorca were sentenced this week.
Swiss court refuses FIFA’s attempt to muzzle free speech
September 24 – A Zurich court has dismissed FIFA’s lawsuit against Google over the alleged defamation resulting from a website appearing in Google’s search engine.
Ben Yedder escapes detention but faces hearing for sexual assault next month
September 19 – Former French international forward Wissam Ben Yedder has avoided pre-trial detainment ahead of his court appearance on October 15 for sexual assault while intoxicated.
Acquitted in 2022, Blatter and Platini to face appeal trial in 2025 as FIFA and Swiss judiciary demand blood
September 17 – It has become something of a never-ending saga involving the two men who were once the most powerful in world and European football. But it could finally be reaching its denouement.
South Korea’s Son Jun-ho says he was coerced into match-fixing confession by Chinese police
September 16 – South Korea’s Suwon FC are reported to have terminated international midfielder Son Jun-ho’s contract by mutual agreement after he was handed a lifetime ban by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) for his alleged involvement in match-fixing and bribery.
Secret location, huge consequences, trial of strength. Man City case starts Monday
September 13 – The case, billed as football’s trial of the century, is to begin on Monday when Manchester City face 115 charges for allegedly breaking financial rules, with potentially huge ramifications.
Six to stand trial in France over Pogba extortion, including his brother
September 11 – French judges have ordered six men to stand trial in a kidnap and extortion case involving former French World Cup midfield star Paul Pogba, with his brother Mathias one of the accused.
Valencia isolate Mir after arrest for alleged sexual assault
September 10 – Valencia have begun disciplinary proceedings against their forward Rafa Mir after the 27-year-old was arrested last week by the Spanish Guardia Civil police for alleged sexual assault.
Croatian Vušković loses doping appeal at CAS and has ban doubled
August 28 – Hamburg SV’s Croatia Under-21 international Mario Vušković has had his doping ban doubled to four years in a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
US prosecutors drop charges against Colombian FA boss Jesurún for assaulting a security guard
August 27 – Charges have been dropped against Colombian FA chief and FIFA Council member Ramón Jesurún more than a month after he and his son were arrested in the chaos that unfolded at the Copa America final in Miami.
China jails two more former football officials for 11 years for corruption
August 19 – China has jailed yet another leading official for bribery as the crackdown into football corruption shows no sign of abating.
Spanish prosecutors say €7m of Barca cash can’t be accounted for in Caso Negreira case
August 6 – The refereeing payment scandal which for months engulfed Barcelona but which has seemingly drifted under the radar has burst back into the spotlight.
FIFA looks for appeasement over legal action from European Leagues and Fifpro
August 2 – Facing the threat of legal action, FIFA is holding out an olive branch to European leagues and players in order to end a three-month deadlock over the international match calendar.