Premier League sets up ‘owner’s charter’ to curb any ESL breakaway repeat
May 4 – The English Premier League has taken action to prevent its clubs threatening to break away again and join any future European Super League.
Integrity
UEFA and FIFA join four-day social media blackout protesting online racist abuse
By Andrew Warshaw
April 30 – English football’s boycott of social media in protest against the current scourge of online racist abuse has been joined by FIFA and UEFA as well as a number of other sports.
SIGA launches Women on Wednesday’s webinar series May 5
April 30 – Global integrity body SIGA launches the first of its ‘Women on Wednesday’s’ (WoW) webinars next week (May 5). The webinars will take place on the first Wednesday of every month and feature leading women’s sports executives.
German star Metzelder given suspended jail sentence for child porn offences
April 30 – Former Germany and Dortmund star Christoph Metzelder (pictured) has been sentenced to a suspended 10-month prison term after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
‘No such thing as a crisis’ – Barnes and Saha headline free webinar line-up today
April 28 – SIGA will hold the first in a new series of webinars today (April 28) focussed on the issues around the fallout of the failure of European Super League.
The real revolution comes now. Macedo de Medeiros says door must open to wider reform
By Paul Nicholson
April 27 – “This is a true revolution. This is do or die now. If they don’t chop their heads off they will become victims again within a few years time.” Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, former European Leagues boss and head of global integrity group SIGA is unequivocal in his assessment of what needs to be done next following the collapse of the European Super League.
UEFA probes reports of Ibrahimovic stake in online betting site
April 27 – Veteran Swedish international striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is facing a UEFA probe into “alleged financial interest in a betting company” and could face a three-year ban if found guilty.
The World Leagues Forum condemns ESL plan and demands league voices are heard
April 26 – The World Leagues Forum (WLF), which represents more than 40 professional league worldwide, has issued a statement calling for leagues to be better represented in football governance in the wake of the breakaway European Super League (ESL) furore.
ENOUGH! English professional football to blanket boycott social media next weekend
April 26 – In an unprecedented show of anti-discrimination unity, the entire professional pyramid of English football have joined forces to boycott social media next weekend in response to the online abuse aimed at players in recent weeks.
Giggs pleads not-guilty to charge of assaulting two women
April 26 – Wales men’s team coach Ryan Giggs will miss this summer’s rescheduled Euros after being charged with assaulting two women.
Integrity chief Medeiros says ESL is the most dramatic crisis ever, what happens next is crucial
By Paul Nicholson
April 22 – Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, former European Leagues boss and head of global integrity group SIGA, has said the collapse of the European Super League proposal presents a “unique opportunity to redefine European football” and move away from the days of the ‘gun on the table’ negotiations of Europe’s super wealthy clubs.
Premier League clubs plan social media blackout to send message on abuse
April 20 – English Premier League clubs are planning a social media blackout next month in response to continued online abuse of players.
Czech politico complains to UEFA over Kúdela’s ‘unprecedented’ racism ban
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – The 10-game ban meted out by UEFA to Slavia Prague’s international defender Ondrej Kudela for racist abuse has prompted a remarkable intervention by the Czech government as one of the most high-profile recent cases of discrimination on the pitch continues to rumble on.
Kúdela to miss Euros as UEFA hands him 10-match ban for racist abuse of Kamara
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – One of the most contentious recent incidents of racist abuse in European football has been resolved with UEFA meting out a 10-match ban to Slavia Prague’s Czech international defender Ondřej Kúdela.
Spurs’ favourite Son racially abused after McTominay incident
April 13 – Tottenham Hotspur’s South Korean international Son Heung-min is the latest English Premier League player to be targeted with racist abuse on social media.