Trial date changes prompt Giggs to give up chance of managing Wales at Qatar 2022
June 21 – Ryan Giggs has formally quit as coach of the Welsh national team even though he has been on the sidelines for several months.
Integrity
Hate speech alive and kicking: 50%+ of players at Euro 2020 and AFCON abused
June 20 – Over half of the players who competed in the latter stages of Euro 2020 and the African Cup of Nations finals were abused online before, during and after the game, according to a shocking report released jointly by FIFA and FIFPRO, the international players’ union.
Prosecutor removes jail time in Blatter/Platini trial, opens new probe into $140m FIFA Museum
June 16 – Prosecutors in the criminal trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-Uefa boss Michel Platini have demanded both men be handed 20-month suspended prison sentences, accusing them of defrauding FIFA.
Kattner says it wasn’t fraud and he didn’t tip off Swiss investigators to Blatter-Platini payment
June 16 – Former FIFA finance director Markus Kattner has told the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland, that he didn’t flag the payment of CHF2 million from FIFA, requested by Sepp Blatter, to Michel Platini to the Swiss federal authorities and that he doesn’t believe it was an illegal payment.
Blatter/Platini trial enters fifth day with former FIFA finance boss Kattner set to testify
June 14 – The fifth day of the trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and former UEFA president Michel Platini continues with former FIFA finance director Markus Kattner expected to testify in the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona in Switzerland.
Technical knockout: Kenyan women out of AFCON after appealing wrong decision at CAS
June 13 – Despite a plea from world players union Fifpro, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has thrown out an appeal by Kenya women’s team to be reinstated in next month’s African Cup of Nations, citing a legal technicality.
Ronaldo rape case dismissed in US over ‘misappropriated documents’
June 13 – A US judge has dismissed a rape allegation lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo because of the way documents were obtained by the accuser’s legal team.
Blatter tells Swiss court that Platini payment was fulfilment of a ‘gentleman’s agreement’
June 10 – Having been too ill to stake the stand on Wednesday in his trial for fraud, former FIFA president Sepp Blatter was well enough to face his accusers in the Swiss court in Bellinzona yesterday (Thursday) and denied that a CHF2 million payment to Michel Platini was fraudulent.
Rex Sport/SSBM open applications for new Master in Sports Law student intake
June 10 – Applications have opened for the next Rex Sport Master in International Sports Lawprogramme, held in conjunction with the Swiss business management school SSBM in Geneva.
Blatter too ill to testify as fraud trail kicks off in Bellinzona
June 9 – The start of the eagerly awaited criminal trial of former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-UEFA boss Michel Platini was pushed back 24 hours on Wednesday after Blatter told the court he was too ill to testify because of chest pains.
Blatter and Platini prep for start of Swiss criminal in Bellinzona Wednesday
By Andrew Warshaw
June 7 – After an investigation lasting seven years, Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, once the two most powerful officials in world football, go on trial in Switzerland on Wednesday facing fraud, embezzlement and other corruption charges in a criminal case that has gripped world football politics.
Hungarians teaching racism early? School children at ‘closed door’ England game boo taking the knee
June 6 – England manager Gareth Southgate has expressed his dismay after a crowd made up almost entirely of schoolchildren booed the England team for taking the knee before Saturday’s Nations League game against Hungary in Budapest.
Pardew quits CSKA Sofia after racist fans abuse black players
June 6 – Managers normally quit clubs either to move on to bigger and better or because they are sacked.
Germany’s Bundesliga clubs mandate sustainability criteria in club licensing rules
May 31 – Germany’s Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 clubs have agreed to the inclusion of a binding sustainability guideline in their club licensing regulations.
Cat tale: The ancient Egyptians worshipped them. Kurt Zouma pleads guilty to kicking them
May 25 – French international defender Kurt Zouma (pictured) has pleaded guilty to animal welfare offences over video footage showing him attacking one of his cats.