Argentina’s Gomez protests doping ban, blaming son’s cough medicine
October 23 – One of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad has been handed a two-year ban by FIFA for doping, blaming his failed test on taking his son’s cough medicine.
Integrity
Gambling addicted Juve midfielder Nicolo Fagioli banned for seven months
October 18 – Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli has been banned for seven months by the Italian football federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules, the latest high-profile Italian player to hit the headlines in recent days for the wrong reasons.
Pogba faces doping ban after second sample reported positive
October 9 – Former World Cup winner and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba faces a possible lengthy ban following a positive doping test on a B sample one month after he was provisionally suspended.
Cypriot FA backs Safe Gaming to alert players and public to dangers of betting
October 4 – The Football federation of Cyprus (CFA), in collaboration with the National Betting Authority, is promoting a week of information and awareness around Safe Gaming October 9-15.
Spurs condemn torrent of racist abuse targeted at Udogie after Liverpool game
October 2 – Tottenham Hotspur have condemned racist abuse directed at fullback Destiny Udogie on social media following Saturday’s 2-1 home win against Liverpool.
UEFA agrees new ‘Governance Framework’ primer to help guide national associations
September 26 – At its Executive Committee meeting in Cyprus yesterday, UEFA adopted a revised governance framework for its 55 national associations designed to promote good governance at the domestic level.
FIFA renews paper commitment with UNODC to fight football crime, but how and where?
September 26 – FIFA and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have extended their Memorandum of Understanding “to kick crime out of the game”.
Toffolo given five-month ban for breaching betting rules
September 14 – Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo has been handed a suspended five-month ban for breaching English football’s betting rules.
Henderson comes out over LGBTQ criticism arguing ‘we can all bury our heads in the sand’
September 6 – Former Liverpool star Jordan Henderson has defended his move to Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq after LGBTQ rights criticism.
São Paulo join SIGA, Brazilian Sports Ministry signs MOU – SIW2023 gets into full swing
September 6 – Brazilian giants São Paulo FC have become the first professional football club to join the Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) as member.
Liga Portugal blazes sports integrity trail with SIRVS audit
August 31 – Liga Portugal has blazed a sports governance trail becoming the first top tier professional football league to submit to an independent sports integrity audit via SIGA’s Independent Rating and Verification System (SIRVS).
Rubiales’ mother protests ‘hounding’ of her son by going on hunger strike
August 29 – The mother of under-fire Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales has begun a hunger strike in defence of her son as the pressure continues to grow on him to resign over “that” kiss.
Sports Integrity Week lines up 75 hosting partners across 20 countries
August 24 – With just 10 days to go to the kick-off of Sport Integrity Week 2023 (#SIW2023), SIGA has announced 75 presenting partners from all sectors of the global Sports ecosystem.
SIGA’s Sports Integrity Week to include Public Hearing on the future of Brazilian football
August 18 – As part of SIGA’s Sports Integrity Week an independent study will be launched in a special session on September 5 that has the future of football in Brazil as its central theme.
SIGA unveils ‘Integrity Match’ in conjunction with Sao Paulo FC to played during SIW2023
August 10 – Sports integrity group SIGA’s South American arm – SIGA Latin America – is collaborating with Brazil’s São Paulo Football Club, to stage an ‘Integrity Match’ at Sao Paulo’s Morumbi Stadium on September 4, just as SIGA’s Sports Integrity Week gets into full swing.