March 31 – Jose Maria Marin, 87, is on his way home. Amid health concerns in times of the global coronavirus pandemic, the former Brazilian football supremo has won his release from an American prison, where he was serving a four-year sentence for his role in the FIFAgate scandal.
By Paul Nicholson
March 30 – The case brought against BeIN Sport boss Nasser AI-Khelaifi by the Swiss prosecutor’s office and driven by its attorney general Michael Lauber was dropped by the Federal Court in Switzerland at the end of last week.
March 27 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is partnering with the Foundation for Global Community Health (GCH) to bring Brain Breaks into homes around the globe.
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – Premier League rivals of Manchester city have reportedly ganged up to try and stop the club getting their European ban put on ice in order to be allowed to play in next season’s Champions League.
March 26 – England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) are seeking urgent talks with the Premier League and Football League over the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on players and clubs.
March 26 – As the fourth measure if its #SIGASTRIVES initiative the sports integrity body has called on technology companies to join the alliance.
March 24 – Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA has joined the SIGA community as a ‘Committed Supporter’. .
March 23 – Sports integrity body SIGA has listed on the European Union Transparency Register which makes information public on how the body governs itself as well as information on its financial structure.
March 20 – SIGA and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) have entered into a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to prevent corruption and other crimes in Sport.
March 19 – With the Premier League having announced that all matches are currently suspended until April 30, Manchester United have announced they will pay wages to their casual workforce whether games are played or not.
March 19 – Battling for sports integrity is not unlike the fight against coronavirus. You can’t see the enemy but you know that it is there and potentially can destroy everything you hold close. And you can’t let your guard down.
March 16 – Manchester City’s appeal against their two-year ban from European football for allegedly breaking financial fair play rules is suddenly up in the air as a result of the coronavirus.
March 12 – US Soccer has apologised after a backlash against statements in court documents this week that players on the men’s national team possess greater skill and have more demanding jobs than their female counterparts. The federation is also feeling the heat from sponsors.
March 12 – Former DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured) has made a surprise court appearance at the 2006 World Cup tax fraud trial – despite the advice of his doctor not to attend.
March 11 – Coronavirus fears have prompted SIGA to postpone its VI SIGA Sport Integrity Forum and general assembly, scheduled for 24-25 March in New York. The integrity group will now rearrange for a date in the Autumn.