Italian court clears Juve of doping its balance sheet with over-inflated transfer deals
April 19 – Juventus and other clubs have been acquitted by Italy’s Federal Court following a widespread investigation into the inflation of transfer fees.
Integrity
Another rigged election? FIFA administration get a brazenly fast start at keeping Infantino in office
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Less than a week after FIFA’s Congress in Doha and president Gianni Infantino’s announcement that he would be standing for election for a third term, FIFA’s administration have begun aggressively politicking for their president in a clear violation of the world governing body’s rules.
Platini files criminal complaint in France against Infantino for ‘influence-peddling’
By Andrew Warshaw
April 6 – After largely remaining out of the public eye since the expiry of his FIFA ban, Michael Platini is back in the spotlight with another legal offensive aimed at his nemesis Gianni Infantino.
Russia drop CAS appeal against World Cup ban, but battle to keep spot at Women’s Euro
April 6 – Russia has withdrawn its appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against FIFA’s World Cup ban and against the Polish, Swedish and Czech federations who refused to play against them because of the invasion of Ukraine.
SIGA commits to gender parity on Council with search for two new female leaders
March 29 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) has opened an application process to select two additional female leaders to join the SIGA Council.
Company Select end Antwerp sponsorship in protest over Overmars appointment
March 25 – HR Company Select has withdrawn as sponsor of Antwerp following the arrival of Marc Overmars at the Belgian club. The Dutchman exited Ajax in disgrace following allegations of improper conduct.
Discrimination: Does football really think it is doing enough?
March 25 – Today is the International Day for the Rembrance of the Víctims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Tuesday 21 March was the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Overmars in quick return with Antwerp role after Dutch disgrace
March 22 – Belgian club Antwerp have named Marc Overmars as their new technical director, just weeks after the Dutchman exited Ajax Amsterdam under a cloud.
Russian World Cup suspension holds after CAS dismisses RFU appeal for stay
March 18 – Russia’s participation in the World Cup in Qatar is almost certainly over after a move to temporarily freeze their FIFA ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
‘GRID’ Forum – Football is not doing enough , ‘silence is compliance’, says Lewis
By Paul Nicholson
March 18 – Brian Lewis, president of the Trinidad & Tobago National Olympic Committee and CANOC, issued a challenge to sport and to football in particular to do more to combat discrimination in all its forms.
Fan-less Chelsea head for Middlesbrough for FA Cup clash as ‘integrity’ storm rages
March 18 – The FA Cup, the world’s oldest domestic knockout tournament, resumes at the quarterfinal stage this weekend with much of the focus on crisis club Chelsea’s visit to second-tier Middlesbrough.
VAR referral results in win for Mediapro and €2.1m loss for RFEF
March 17 – The bad blood between the Spanish football federation (RFEF) and Mediapro, one of the world’s biggest sports media organisations that is headquartered in Spain, has continued with the latest victory going to the agency with a €2.1 million compensation win.
Spartak Moscow remain out of Europa League as Russia lose appeal added time
March 16 – The ban on Russian teams playing in UEFA competition has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but a separate and more significant ruling on Russia’s World Cup status is expected later this week.
Fifa-gate felon Del Nero loses appeal in Swiss court to overturn 20-year ban
March 15 – Disgraced former Brazilian powerbroker Marco Polo del Nero has lost his final appeal, this time at Switzerland’s highest court, in his attempt to try and overturn a 20-year FIFA ban for taking bribes worth millions of dollars.
Al-Khelaifi lawyers claim slander and ask how record $450m World Cup TV deal needs a bribe
By Andrew Warshaw
March 10 – Lawyers for Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured), the Qatari head of broadcaster beIN Sport and boss of Paris St Germain, have demanded a full acquittal of their client over bribery allegations relating to the sale of media rights for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup.