Law Archives - Page 32 of 37 - Inside World Football

Law: Does Bony’s £8m case show it is time for regulators to stop agents defrauding players?

By Ben Pilbrow and Annemaree McDonough

Football has often been described as the beautiful game, but never the beautiful business. Regularly tainted by allegations of corruption and shady-dealing, the importance of regulation in the sport increases in line with the flow of money into it. Between 1 October 2015 and 1 February 2016, intermediaries and agents received an estimated £46,582,843 from Premier League clubs alone.

Law

Is Marin mafia? US prosecutor asks for jury to be given protection of anonymity

By Samindra Kunti

September 21 – Brooklyn federal prosecutors have asked for an anonymous and semi-sequestered jury in the upcoming trial of three former South American football executives, but Jose Maria Marin and his lawyers are challenging that motion. Marin faces trial on November 6.

Concacaf

NASL hits US Soccer with antitrust suit as league fights for its life

September 20 – The fractious relationship between the North American Soccer League (NASL) and its national governing body, the US Soccer Federation (USSF) has boiled over with the NASL filing a federal antitrust lawsuit against the USSF in Brooklyn federal court.

Law

Legal comment: Understanding the Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar’s tax cases

The open proceedings in Spain regarding the tax cases of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr.[1], are too often believed to be the same, or at least, very similar cases. Alexander Guede in this column clarifies the different cases and their implications for the individuals and Spanish football.

Integrity

Closing borders? Nigerian Onazi has transfer to Birmingham City scuppered

By Mark Baber

August 17 – Nigerian international Qgenyi Onazi (pictured) has seen his transfer to Birmingham City from Trabzonspor scuppered after he failed to meet the requirements for governing body endorsement and an FA Exceptions Panel failed to rule in his favour.

Concacaf

US law enforcers name Mexican captain Márquez as front for drug cartel

August 10 – Mexico’s national team captain Rafael Márquez has been sanctioned by the US treasury department for allegedly being a “front person” for a drug-trafficking cartel.

Integrity

Albania FA supports drone man’s fight against extradition to Serbia

Serbia vs Albania drone

By Mark Baber

Albania’s Football Federation (FAA) has issued a statement of support for Ismail Morinaj, the man who famously flew a drone with a nationalist banner into a Belgrade stadium during a Euro 2016 qualifier, sparking riots around the Balkans, igniting nationalist fervour and, thanks to the reaction of some Serbian fans, greatly assisting in Albania’s qualification for their first major international tournament.

Law

Slow burner? Del Nero, Marin, Teixeira and Hawilla targeted by Brazil’s Supreme court

By Samindra Kunti

August 3 – Brazil’s highest court the Federal Supreme Court, the STF, is to probe the corruption inquiry targeting CBF president Marco Polo Del Nero and his predecessors José Maria Marin and Ricardo Teixeira. José Hawilla, owner and founder of sports marketing agency Traffic, is also a defendant in the case.

Integrity

Sadomba wins CAS case over $450,000 Libyan cash that never was

August 3 – In a rare success for a player from Africa, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled Libyan football club Al Ahli failed to honour a contract termination agreement with a former international player.

Law

Cool cat Jack’s nine lives: Trinidad judge postpones Warner extradition ruling

jack warner

By Paul Nicholson

August 2 – The expected ruling on whether former CONCACAF president and FIFA Vice President Jack Warner has been successful in blocking his extradition to the US has been postponed. This time to a date in September.

Integrity

Spain’s Villar released after court relents to grant bail

By Andrew Warshaw

August 1 – Angel Maria Villar, FIFA’s second most senior official until he quit last week after being arrested for suspected corruption, has been granted bail by a Spanish judge despite having previously been considered a flight risk.

Integrity

Ronaldo tells court he has nothing to hide as tax authorities chase €14.7m

Ronaldo

August 1 – As expected, Cristiano Ronaldo protested his innocence when he made his highly anticipated court appearance outside Madrid to face accusations of evading €14.7 million in taxes.

Integrity

Trinidad judge to rule on Warner’s legal challenge to extradition today

Jack Warner 12

By Paul Nicholson

July 31 – The US Department of Justice will find out today whether they are any nearer to getting their hands on disgraced former CONCACAF president Jack Warner.

Integrity

Ronaldo in Madrid court accused of €14.7m tax evasion

Ronaldo

July 31 – Cristiano Ronaldo was due to appear in a Spanish court later today, accused of evading millions of Euros in tax.

Law

Police chief faces manslaughter charges over Hillsborough disaster

Hillsborough Justice

July 28 – Three separate trials are anticipated for the prosecution of the six men facing charges over the 1989 Hillsborough stadium disaster.