US Soccer changes legal wording as it seeks a solution in equal pay dispute
April 1 – US Soccer has toned down its legal language in new federal court filings in the equal pay dispute with members of the American’s national women’s team.
Integrity
Ukraine ‘ghost’ games fool bookies and punters as criminals pull off perfect crime
By Paul Nicholson
March 31 – The coronavirus lockdown has not stopped football-related betting fraud with the re-emergence last weekend of so-called ‘ghost’ games in Ukraine.
SIGA Strives 6: SIGA and Insideworldfootball partner on Sport Integrity Bulletin
March 31 – The Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) is partnering with Inside World Football on two exciting new initiatives “4 Questions for 4 Leaders” and a monthly “Sport Integrity Bulletin”, in order to promote Sport Integrity during the coronavirus crisis.
FIFAgate: Marin given early release to return to Brazil over health fears
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.
Swiss Federal Court drops Lauber’s case against BeIN boss AI-Khelaifi
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.
SIGA Strives V: Integrity body promotes rollout of Brain Breaks during Coronavirus crisis
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.
Premier League clubs gang-up on Man City in bid to prevent their ban appeal
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.
English player’s union calls for urgent meet as cash crunch hits clubs and wages
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.
SIGA Strives IV: Integrity body issues call for technology partners
March 26 – As the fourth measure if its #SIGASTRIVES initiative the sports integrity body has called on technology companies to join the alliance.
SIGA Strives III: Laureus Sport for Good Foundation joins integrity body
March 24 – Laureus Sport for Good Foundation USA has joined the SIGA community as a ‘Committed Supporter’. .
SIGA Strives II: Integrity body lists on European Union Transparency Register
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.
SIGA Strives: 5-year partnership signed with UNICRI to prevent crime in sport
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.
Man Utd commit to paying casual workforce whether games are played or not
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.
SIGA Strives: Integrity group rolls out series of 30 initiatives
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.
Coronavirus backlog means Man City will have to wait for CAS hearing on suspension
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.