FIFA has launched a programme for Member Associations to further develop women’s football on a sustainable basis whilst simultaneously pushing it forward into the mainstream.
In a further step towards greater transparency and full disclosure of fundamental activities and operations, FIFA has today published for the first time two new reports for the period 2019/2020: on the one hand a review of the activities of the two main independent judicial bodies, the Disciplinary and Ethics Committees; and on the other a report on FIFA’s anti-doping activities.
In light of the recent evolution of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to temporarily adapt the rules concerning the release of players during the upcoming September international window, which is to be played only by UEFA member associations.
FIFA has cleared President Gianni Infantino of violating its Code of Ethics following a preliminary investigation by the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee.
Following a request by the chairwoman of the investigatory chamber, and in accordance with article 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE), the provisional ban imposed on 25 May 2020 on Yves Jean-Bart, the President of the Haitian Football Association (FHF), has been extended by the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber for an additional period of 90 days, which will start upon the expiry of the initial 90-day ban. During this time, Mr Jean-Bart will continue to be banned from taking part in any football-related activity at both national and international level.
In his address to the Finland Football Association (SPL-FBF) Congress over the weekend, Olli Rehn, who was confirmed recently to lead the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan steering committee, outlined FIFA’s response to the pandemic and stressed the major reforms implemented by the organisation in the field of financial management, ethics and good governance.
FIFA’s groundbreaking COVID‑19 Relief Plan reached a major milestone as the Bureau of the FIFA Council approved the plan’s regulations.
On 8 June 2019, Mr Karim was found guilty by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee of having abused his position and sexually abused various female players, in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics. As a result, Mr Karim was sanctioned with a life ban from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) at both national and international level, as well as a fine in the amount of CHF 1,000,000. Today, CAS has dismissed Mr Karim’s appeal and fully confirmed the decision of the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee.
In a well-founded decision notified to the parties on 10 July 2020, the State Court of Rio de Janeiro has dismissed in its entirety the claims brought against FIFA by Spuni Comércio de Produtos Esportivos e Marketing LTDA (“Spuni”) in relation to the use of free-kick vanishing spray.
FIFA does not, and will never, accept the jurisdiction of a local court in Trinidad & Tobago to decide on the legality of the appointment of the Normalisation Committee currently appointed to run football in the territory.
The adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has found Markus Kattner, former FIFA Deputy Secretary General and Acting Secretary General, guilty of conflicts of interest and having abused his position, in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
FIFA is sharing a football risk assessment tool with its 211 member associations, the six continental confederations and other stakeholders in order to facilitate the planning of the resumption of football activities by competition and match organisers, as soon as health authorities and governments consider it safe. It has been developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), UEFA, the European Club Association (ECA), FIFPRO, the World Leagues Forum and European Leagues, includes a list of mitigation measures that aim to reduce the overall risk of mass gatherings contributing to the spread of COVID-19, as well as indications for individual and group training by football teams.
Today, on International Missing Children’s Day, FIFA is coming together with over 170 football clubs across six continents to support a new initiative that hopes to help find vulnerable young people. Each club, as well as FIFA, has volunteered to use their social media channels to share videos featuring children who are currently missing all over the world.
In line with its commitment to promoting greater transparency and disclosure of its core internal activities, FIFA has today published the “Manual on ‘TPI’ and ‘TPO’ in football agreements”.
Gianni Infantino appeared as a surprise on-stage guest at the Swiss Economic Forum in Montreux, and in an interview that touched on a range of topics, the FIFA President looked back on the institutional and cultural overhaul he has led since taking over an organisation mired in crisis in 2016.
FIFA has extended the ban of Haitian football federation president, Yves Jean-Bart, and also banned two other officials as part of the sexual abuse investigation into the federation.
FIFA is today lodging an appeal against the decision of the Trinidad and Tobago High Court issued last week to proceed with a claim from the former leadership of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) against the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council in March 2020 to appoint a normalisation committee for the TTFA.
Following reports appearing in several media sources since May 2020, the chairperson of the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has initiated a preliminary investigation into certain allegations concerning the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino. In addition, on 21 June 2020, a complaint was filed against the FIFA President before the FIFA Ethics Committee concerning the same matter.
FIFA acknowledges the decision of the Swiss Special Federal Public Prosecutor in opening an investigation regarding the meetings involving the FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the Swiss Attorney General Michael Lauber. FIFA, including the FIFA President, remains at the disposal of the Swiss authorities and will, as we have always done, cooperate fully with this investigation.
Today, FIFA launched the Executive Programme on Sports Arbitration, tailored towards lawyers with an interest in sport law and/or in-house legal counsels of International or National Federations, clubs, leagues and player unions.
FIFA acknowledges the final panel report published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in relation to the activity of the pirate broadcaster known as ‘beoutQ’ and the active involvement and support that has been provided by Saudi Arabia (KSA) in the past three years.
Following the publication on 7 April of recommendations and guidelines to address some of the key football regulatory issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the FIFA administration has since conducted 13 different workshops with representatives from its member associations (MAs), confederations, the World Leagues Forum (WLF) and the European Club Association (ECA). More than 350 participants have attended these workshops.
The FIFA Football Law Annual Review 2019 was originally planned to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 16 March 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we were forced to reschedule the on site event.
In accordance with articles 84 and 85 of the FIFA Code of Ethics, the investigatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee has provisionally banned Mr Yves Jean-Bart, President of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), from all football-related activities at both national and international level, for a period of 90 days.
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