France open criminal investigation into award of 2018 and 2022 World Cups
April 28 – France has become the third country after the United States and Switzerland to investigate the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Integrity
Marseilles and Chelsea dragged into transfer fraud probe as police hunt tax cheats
April 27 – Secret payments made to players and agents is reported to be at the centre of the football tax fraud investigation launched by British and French authorities.
Thinking big. Warner counter sues CONCACAF’s $20m with $40m claim, names Gulati
By Paul Nicholson
April 26 – Five days after CONCACAF filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, claiming $20 million in damages against former executives Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, Warner has responded by saying he will file a suit against CONCACAF for $40 million claiming “persistent defamation” of character. He also says he is suing US Soccer Federation president and FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati personally.
British and French police swoop to arrest tax fraudsters in player transfer scandals
April 26 – Professional football in England and France has been plunged into a tax fraud scandal with a number of arrests following raids linked to alleged transfer activity going back several years.
Blatter says he is not a ‘suspect’ and Platini could be cleared for return
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – Sepp Blatter’s colourful and controversial career may be over as a result of his six-year ethics ban but despite speculation to the contrary, the 81-year-old insists he will not end up facing prosecution at the hands of either US or Swiss justice authorities.
FIFPro warns players away from Romania as pay situation worsens
April 24 – The international players’ union FIFpro has warned its members against signing for Romanian clubs because of the risk they will not get paid.
FIFA draw the line under Costa Rica’s Li with life ban for taking bribes
April 24 – Eduardo Li, the disgraced former president of the Costa Rican Football Association, has been banned for life by FIFA’s ethics committee in the latest sanction to strike at the heart of the organisation’s old guard.
Sakho doping case opens rift between UEFA and WADA
By Andrew Warshaw
April 21 – UEFA and the World anti-doping Agency have come to blows over French international Mamadou Sakho’s wrongly applied drugs ban last year.
Seraing and Doyen lose CAS appeal over TPO, but recruitment ban reduced
April 11 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) have finally released a statement upholding FIFA’s recruitment ban on Belgian club RFC Seraing for breaching third-party ownership rules – but has confirmed is has reduced the sanction from four transfer windows to three.
Internacional to play in Serie B after CAS refuses to judge on claims against Vitoria
By Samindra Kunti
April 7 – The Court of Arbitration CAS has dismissed an appeal lodged by Brazil’s Internacional over Vitoria Da Bahia’s problems with the player’s registration of Victor Ramos. The decision confirms Internacional’s relegation to Brazil’s Serie B.
USSF agrees pay deal with women’s game ahead of NWSL kick off
April 6 – The long-running and often bitter dispute between the US Soccer Federation and the country’s top female players over wage discrimination has ended.
Chung heads for CAS claiming Blatter’s buddies are still running the show
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – As he prepares to try and clear his name at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an embittered Chung Mong-joon says Sepp Blatter’s legacy still pervades FIFA and that he has been treated maliciously by FIFA’s ethics committee.
Liverpool hit with fine and academy recruitment ban after trying to poach Stoke player
April 6 – Liverpool have been fined £100,000 by the Premier League and handed a two-year ban on signing academy players from other English clubs for breaking strict recruitment rules.
Irish women call off strike after deal agreed with FAI over working conditions
April 6 – Twenty-four hours after threatening to go on strike in a row over working conditions the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team have reached agreement with the national federation (FAI) following lengthy mediation talks.
English FA council passes reform package to go before full membership
April 4 – Members of the English Football Association’s council have unanimously backed a package of governance reforms proposed by the governing body’s board aimed at enhancing diversity.