By Andrew Warshaw
November 28 – Wrong refereeing decisions not only change games but can wreck seasons and even lead to coaches being sacked. But one Atlético Madrid fan is so incensed over what happened in last season’s Champions League final that he is suing UEFA for damages.
November 15 – FIFA ethics judges have opened formal proceedings against Najeeb Chirakal, a former aide to disgraced ex-Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam, based on the final report submitted by ethics investigators who recommended a life ban.
By Andrew Warshaw
October 25 – The US-led probe into football corruption took another significant twist on Thursday when a Florida-based sports channel, GoITV Inc, sued Fox Sports Latin America alleging that Fox executives had paid tens of millions of dollars in bribes to CONMEBOL officials in exchange for lucrative television rights to tournaments, according to the Washington Post.
September 20 – US federal prosecutors have set a provisional date of November 6 next year for the start of the FifaGate corruption scandal trial, with as many as seven defendants reportedly considering switching their pleas to guilty.
By Nan Sato, Shimin Law
The Communist government in China has long had an uncomfortable relationship with gambling, but the mounting interest in sports betting may make the country’s leaders rethink some of its policies.
June 1 – The long-awaited trial of Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi on tax fraud charges has begun in Spain – but he will not appear in court until later this week.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 29 – Michel Platini made his do-or-die appearance before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) today in the vain hope that he can clear his name and resume his UEFA presidency in time for the organisation’s annual congress in Budapest next week.