Swiss court re-imposes Guerrero ban
August 24 – First he was in, then he was out, he appealed, he lost, he appealed again. He played at the World Cup – but now he is out again.
Integrity
Marin hit with 4-year jail term. Webb asks to postpone sentencing again
August 23 – In a landmark verdict six months after he was convicted for his role in the FifaGate scandal, Jose Maria Marin, the former president of Brazil’s football federation who to the last insisted he had done nothing wrong, has been sentenced to four years in jail.
Crime and punishment: FIFPro says Samir Arab’s matchfixing ban is unfair and wrong
August 23 – The international players’ union FIFPro has taken UEFA to task over a two-year ban imposed for matchfixing by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Maltese under-21 international Samir Arab.
SIGA joins with TEAMS ’18 for launch of Sports Betting Forum event in Louisville
August 23 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is combining with the TEAMS ’18 Conference & Expo to launch the first Sports Betting Forum, to be held October 1-4, in Louisville, Kentucky, as part of the TEAMS 18 event schedule.
Crystal Palace fanzine holds Sussex police to account
August 23 – Coming just a day after the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service announced that it would not be prosecuting Hillsborough police chief Norman Bettison for his part and lies in the cover-up of the disaster, Sussex police have been found to be in breach of the Freedom of Information (FoI) act.
Lying Hillsborough police chief Norman Bettison to escape criminal trial
August 22 – A former British police chief who was charged with lying over his role in the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster that killed 96 fans will no longer face trial after a review of evidence, according to prosecutors.
Lazio face Italian FA sanction over fan demand for women to stay out Curva Nord
August 22 – The Italian football federation says Lazio will be punished for a hardcore group of its fans trying to ban women from a section of the Stadio Olimpico.
Jose Maria Marin sentencing: Federal prosecutors demand 10 years
August 20 – The long-awaited sentencing of former Brazilian supremo Jose Maria Marin (pictured right) is scheduled for Wednesday (August 22) in Brooklyn, New York, with federal prosecutors reportedly pushing for a 10-year jail term for the 85-year-old.
Lazio fans say women’s place is not in the ‘trenches’ of the Curva Nord
August 20 – Hardcore fans of Lazio have caused outrage by circulating a flier saying women should be banned from part of the Curva Nord of Rome’s Olympic Stadium described by supporters as their “sacred space”.
Party line: Kroos steps in Ozil debate saying his racism claims are ‘nonsense’
August 16 – The row over racism claims by German midfielder Mesut Ozil, which led to his surprise retirement at 29 from international football, has taken another twist with national teammate Toni Kroos rubbishing such claims.
Swiss FA chief Miescher forced to quit over dual nationality comments
August 13 – Alex Miescher has been forced to quit as general secretary of the Swiss football federation as a result of controversial comments he made about Swiss players having dual nationality.
World Cup bribe allegations hits Televisa share price as pension fund files complaint
August 10 – Mexican broadcaster Televisa is failing to shake off allegations that it bribed its way to the broadcast rights to the 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030 World Cups, with an amendment to a March complaint in the NY Federal court being filed this week.
Celtic fan abuses former Rangers hero Nacho Novo at Belfast airport
August 7 – A small Belfast club has denounced what it describes as “vile sectarian abuse” towards a former Glasgow Rangers player while he was their guest in the city.
Racist insults anger Demba Ba, Chinese Super League promises action
August 6 – Chinese authorities have pledged to investigate reports that Senegalese striker Demba Ba was subjected to racial slurs by an opponent at the weekend vowing “stern punishment” if the incident is true.
Hot tickets: Conmebol and FIFA official Jesurun caught in touting probe
August 2 – Yet another member of FIFA’s all-powerful ruling Council, which replaced the old executive committee as part of a widespread reform package, has become embroiled in corruption allegations making a mockery of the organisation’s claims that it has weeded out the miscreants within its inner circle.