Why Nigerian football needs responsible communication between stakeholders to flourish
When
For the 2022/2023 the Adult Male Future Competitions Structure will see a change to League Cups and Lower XVs from Level 3 and below.
Sports Law in 2022 – Key issues to watch in Central & South America
Sports Law in 2022 – Key issues to watch in Asia, Africa & Oceania
Key Sports Law Cases And Developments Of 2021 – Asia, Africa & Oceania
Key Sports Law Cases And Developments Of 2021 – UK & Ireland
Legal experts’ opinions on the Fan Led Review of Football Governance
Nigerian Women’s Football & Basketball Teams Fight For Equal Pay
Esports in Italy: Key Labour Issues & why a uniform legal framework is vital for its success
Bitcoin Payments In Sport - The Opportunities And Risks For Clubs And Players
UKAD quarterly results show increase compared to same time last year as testing ramps up pre-Beijing Winter Games
UEFA governance model reinforced by EU sports ministers
EU sports ministers today adopted a Resolution of the Council of the EU on a European Sport Model. The Resolution, unanimously approved by the ministers on behalf of the EU’s 27 member states, calls for strengthening values-based organised sport in Europe and protecting it from threats such as closed competitions.
The adoption of the Resolution follows recent vocal support for the European Sport Model from both the European Parliament and the European Commission. The Resolution of the Council of the EU is a milestone that will shape European sport in the decades to come. UEFA applauds EU sports ministers’ determination in reaching the agreement and welcomes the Council of the EU’s vision for the future of European sport policy.
AFC’s club competitions set for strategic reforms
While addressing the AFC Executive Committee on November 21, 2021, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “I am pleased to note that the AFC competitions continue to grow. There will be changes to the rules on foreign players, as well as to our competitions calendar. These are all part of the strategy to improve our players, clubs and national teams on the world stage.”
WADA Seeks Host for 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport
On 24 November 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee agreed on a proposal from WADA Management to organize a Sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport in November 2025. Today, WADA is calling upon interested cities and countries that may be interested in hosting the Conference.
UEFA supporter liaison guide: building bridges between clubs and fans
UEFA’s commitment to fostering positive relations with football fans is reinforced by a new Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) practical guide compiled by UEFA in partnership with Supporters Direct Europe (SD Europe).
FIFA appoints normalisation committees in Guinea and Chad
Guinea
The Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to appoint a normalisation committee for the Guinean Football Association (FGF) following a series of irregularities that took place during the electoral process of the FGF. In order to guarantee that the FGF can hold transparent and fair elections as well as to help restore trust amongst all football stakeholders in Guinea, the normalisation committee’s mandate will include the following tasks:
The ITA asserts an Anti-Doping Rule Violation against Russian weightlifter Kseniya Kozina
The International Testing Agency (ITA), leading an independent anti-doping program for the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), asserts an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) against Russian weightlifter Kseniya Kozina for the use of prohibited substances based on data retrieved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from the Moscow Laboratory
CAF President Dr. Motsepe heaps praises on new Egyptian FA Technical Centre
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe heaped praises on the new Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Technical Center at its official opening and urged other African countries follow similar route.
Over the weekend, Dr. Motsepe alongside FIFA President Mr. Gianni Infantino participated in the official inauguration of the new EFA Technical Center and Headquarters in the 6th of October city, Cairo.
IWF Election Postponed Pending Resolution Of Outstanding Legal Issues
A meeting of the IWF Executive Board yesterday considered the written legal opinion sent by the independent IWF Legal Commission which made it clear the proper legal foundations for the planned IWF Elections had not yet been fully complied. Due to this reason the IWF Executive Board decided, that the Electoral Congress, scheduled for 20-21 December, will not therefore see voting take place on those days. However, the IWF wishes to move forward by holding a General Congress with all other points on the original agenda on 20-21 December 2021. Therefore, preparations will move forward with the same conditions as it was communicated by the IWF before.
Fan led review into English football calls for independent regulator
A fan led review into English football has called for an independent regulator to stop it “lurching from crisis to crisis”.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch chairs the review and told BBC Sport “This is a huge opportunity for football. We've seen football lurching from crisis to crisis over the past decade and unfortunately we haven't had the right levels of regulation in place to stop that from happening.” The review has commissioned by the Government, and it is understood that they would support the idea of an independent regulator.
WADA Governance Review: a missed opportunity for urgently needed reform
Statement from the World Players Association:
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) meets in Paris today and tomorrow and appears certain to once again avoid urgently needed governance reforms to address the escalating crisis facing the global anti-doping effort.
Independent misconduct hearing update: Rassie Erasmus and SA Rugby withdraw appeals
SA Rugby and SA Rugby Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus have advised the independent misconduct committee and World Rugby that they have both withdrawn their notices of appeal to the misconduct decision and sanction issued by the independent disciplinary committee on 17 November, 2021.
AFC signs media rights deal with Sky Network Television Limited
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today announced Sky Network Television Limited (Sky) as their new media partner in New Zealand. The two-year deal from 2021 to 2022 includes the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™, as well as the AFC Champions League™ featuring Asia’s top forty clubs.
WADA Foundation Board unanimously approves further governance reforms
- Approval of Independent Ethics Board; additional seats on Executive Committee for an athlete representative and an independent member, and on Foundation Board for athletes and National Anti-Doping Organizations; and establishment of WADA Athletes’ Council
- Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds Program to be piloted next year
- New Confidential Sources’ Policy approved
FIFA welcomes new European Parliament report on sport
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Report focuses on key issues such as good governance, safe sport, inclusiveness and anti-discrimination
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FIFA’s transfer system reform gains support as part of improving good governance and integrity
WADA publishes IOC Anti-Doping Rules for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
A WADA statement said “The IOC, as the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) Signatory responsible for establishing the Rules applicable to the Games, has established and adopted these Rules to be in line with the 2021 Code and International Standards; most notably, the 2022 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, which was published on 30 September 2021 and comes into force ahead of the Games on 1 January 2022. The Rules will cover the period from the opening of the Olympic Village on 27 January until the day of the closing ceremony on 20 February 2022.”
Can Sports Federations Retroactively Cancel Olympic Qualifying Competitions? A Review Of Karlsson V FEI
Sports Law in 2022 – Key issues to watch in North America
How FIFA's International Call-Up Rules Are Being Applied During the Pandemic
Key Sports Law Cases And Developments Of 2021 – Central & South America
Can athletes successfully challenge COVID-19 vaccine mandates? A case study from the Australian Open 2022
An Overview Of The Fan-Led Review Of Football Governance
FIFA’s New Football Tribunal – Key Changes & Practical Issues For Practitioners
The uncertain future of the NCAA post Alston – Federal v State Legislation v Conference Guidelines
U.S. Triathlon Athlete Noah Webb Accepts Sanction for Anti-Doping Rule Violation
USADA announced today that Noah Webb, of Los Angeles, Calif., an athlete in the sport of triathlon, has accepted a four-year period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation.
Webb, 48, tested positive an anabolic agent as the result of an in-competition urine sample collected at the Toyota USA Triathlon Age Group Olympic National Championships on August 7, 2021. His urine sample was analyzed using a specialized test known as Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), which is capable of measuring the carbon isotope ratio of urinary steroids and confirming their synthetic origin—in this case, testosterone or its precursors. IRMS is a powerful tool that unequivocally differentiates between anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) naturally produced by the body and AAS of synthetic origin. Anabolic agents like testosterone have powerful performance-enhancing capabilities and can give an athlete an unfair advantage over fellow competitors.
Integrity Task Force set up for FIFA Arab Cup 2021™
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Multi-stakeholder group to monitor tournament in real time
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Integrity workshops and briefings organised with all teams and referees
Pilot National Association Financial Benchmarking Report
The pandemic has had a significant impact on key revenue streams for national football associations. The UEFA Grow programme has responded by expanding the financial management services offered to UEFA’s member associations.
Future competition structure
FUTURE COMPETITION STRUCTURE
World Rugby ups the pace of women's rugby with second phase of women's strategic plan
World Rugby has announced that it will increase the pace of women’s rugby development through the second phase of its 2017-25 strategic plan. The transformative “Accelerating the global development of women in rugby” plan reflects the international federation’s commitment to increasing competitiveness, player, fan and commercial interest, and further advancing women in rugby around the globe.
Protecting players: UEFA’s concussion charter for club and national teams
UEFA has taken another important step to protect players’ health and safety by launching a concussion charter for teams taking part in the European men’s and women’s club and national team competitions.
Raj Parker appointed to the BHA Board
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing and regulatory body, has today announced that regulatory and sports law specialist Raj Parker has been appointed to its Board.
Raj takes up his role as an Independent Non-Executive Regulatory Director on 1 January, and will replace Sir Paul Stephenson, who joined the BHA Board in 2015 and whose term expires on 31 December.
CGF Coordination Commission set for latest review of Birmingham 2022
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Coordination Commission will undertake its latest review of Birmingham 2022 preparations later this week.
The Coordination Commission (CoCom) is responsible for delivery oversight of the Commonwealth Games and tasked with monitoring the Games to ensure it is delivered to scope, schedule and budget.
CAF Member Associations unanimously back FIFA World Cup every two years proposal during the Extraordinary General Assembly
The 52 Members of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) today unanimously voted to support the proposal for a biennial FIFA World Cup.
The 13th CAF Extraordinary General Assembly met in Cairo, Egypt today. The meeting was attended by Minister of Sport and Youth in Egypt, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and presidents from CAF Member Associations.
World Rugby statement: Dave Rennie and Rugby Australia
World Rugby can confirm that it has issued a written warning to Rugby Australia and Rugby Australia’s men’s 15s head coach Dave Rennie for comments made immediately after Australia’s final Autumn Nations Series match against Wales in Cardiff on 20 November.
Match officials are the backbone of the sport, and without them there is no game. World Rugby condemns any public criticism of their selection, performance or integrity which undermines or threatens their role, the trust-based coach-officials feedback process, and more importantly, the values that are at the heart of the sport and must be upheld.
World Athletics publishes Online Abuse Study covering Tokyo Olympic Games
• Female athletes were the target of 87% of all abuse
• 65% of all abusive posts warrant intervention from social media platforms
In line with its commitment to making athletics a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, World Athletics today publishes findings of a study conducted during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to identify and address targeted, abusive messages sent to athletes via social media.
RFU Annual Report published
Reported revenues for the year are £97m (£167m in previous year) and profit to reserves £20.5m (loss of £27.1m in prior year).
Revenues in the year were nearly £120m less than pre-COVID forecasts with an underlying loss to reserves of £21.3m (c£30m worse than pre-COVID forecasts).
Papa John’s Trophy rule amendment
Following feedback from Clubs remaining in this season’s Papa John’s Trophy, the EFL can confirm Clubs will be permitted to make five substitutions from the seven they nominate for the remainder of the 2021/22 competition.
The amendment to Competition Rule 10.1 comes into effect ahead of the next round of ties which will take place during the week commencing Monday 29 November 2021.
The change was made after consideration of the proposal which highlighted concerns of a demanding fixture schedule over the coming months.
Innovation initiatives focus on women's football and sustainability
The Innovation in Action and Reimagine Football ventures are exploring new ways to take the sport forward in the fields of fan engagement and carbon footprint reductions.
The Azeem Rafiq Case: How Sports Can Better Tackle Player Discrimination
ATP Announces Rule Changes To Speed Play
ATP has announced new rules relating to toilet breaks, attire changes to come into effect from 2022, in addition to a proposed change to the Medical Time Out rule (start date TBC).
Toilet Break & Change of Attire (Effective 2022)
The FA's response to the Independent Fan Led Review of football governance
We welcome the publication of the Fan Led Review and want to take this opportunity to thank Tracey Crouch and the Panel for their hard work.
We have been fully engaged with the review since its inception and recognise its importance for English football.