Governing Bodies

Uefa opens disciplinary proceedings against unrepentant Super League trio

Published

4 years ago

May 26, 2021

Uefa on Tuesday (May 25) opened formal disciplinary proceedings against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the three clubs which are still refusing to give up the aborted Super League project.

“Following an investigation conducted by Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors in connection with the so-called ‘Super League’ project, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona and Juventus FC for a potential violation of Uefa’s legal framework,” said the governing body of European football in a brief statement.

Uefa appointed “ethics and disciplinary inspectors” on May 12 to conduct a preliminary investigation.

The other nine promoters of the Super League escaped prosecution in exchange for light financial penalties.

Uefa, challenged in mid-April by the launch of the proposed private European tournament at the same time as it announced a major overhaul of its Champions League, has long preferred to negotiate the surrender of the rebels rather than crack down.

But having failed to obtain a surrender from the three holdouts, has opted for disciplinary measures without specifying what offences they have committed.

Uefa’s statutes prohibit any “grouping or alliance” between clubs without its authorisation.

Among the range of sanctions Uefa rules allow, the most severe for the clubs are “exclusion from current and/or future competitions”, as well as “banning from all football-related activities” for the directors.

By announcing their own private Super League on the night of April 18-19, the 12-clubs turned European football on its head and threatened the very existence of Uefa.

The gradual withdrawal of the six English participants after 48 hours led to the project being shelved. he two Milan clubs followed and the nine agreed in early May to pay a combined 15 million euros and to forgo five per cent of their European revenue for one season.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, meanwwhile retaliated through a Commercial Court in Madrid which referred the matter to the European Court of Justice, asking if Uefa was abusing its “dominant position” by seeking to block a competing tournament.

-AFP

Governing Bodies

CAF General Secretary Mosengo-Omba cleared of fraud allegations

Published

4 days ago

January 23, 2025

Kunle Solaja

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Thursday that the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office will not initiate legal proceedings against CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba after finding no basis to do so.

Mosengo-Omba had been under investigation for alleged suspicious payments involving Swiss bank accounts, as disclosed last September by the Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland.

He denied any wrongdoing and met with the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office in November to answer questions relating to the preliminary investigation.

“CAF welcomes the decision of the Swiss Public Prosecutor’s Office and is pleased that there continues to be adherence and compliance within CAF and the CAF Secretariat, with the culture and commitment to ethics, transparency and governance that was introduced since the Presidency of Dr Patrice Motsepe,” CAF said in a statement.

Mosengo-Omba formerly worked at FIFA before taking over as CAF’s general secretary four years ago.

-Reuters

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Governing Bodies

Presidents of IOC and FIFA hail Trump

Published

1 week ago

January 20, 2025

Kunle Solaja

Gianni Infantino with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida ahead of Trump's upcoming inauguration.

As Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the United States President this Monday, leaders of sports bodies whose events are slated for the US in the next four years have heaped praises on the returning president.

United States will host an expanded FIFA Club World Cup this year and will be co-hosts of the World Cup in 2026 as well as the Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles.

Ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach has hailed the American as a “sports fan at heart.”

This came out of a statement he made to the German Press Agency (DPA).

Bach declared that despite political tensions and the fires in California, the 2026 World Cup as well as the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are assured.

The Olympic leader highlighted that Donald Trump “was involved in the bidding phase of both events, campaigning in one way or another in favour of the World Cup and the Los Angeles 2028 Games. That’s why I’m sure he will support them.”

Similarly, the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has hailed Trump. Sports Village Square gathered from the FIFA President’s Instagram handle that Infantino visited Trump as president-elect at Mar-a-Lago in Florida ahead of his upcoming inauguration.

“We discussed this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA World Cup in 2026 – two truly global tournaments which the United States will play a key role in hosting.
“Thank you Mr President for your time and for supporting FIFA over the coming months. America welcomes the World and Football Unites The World”, Infantino wrote.

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Governing Bodies

Morocco gets headquarters for CAF’s African Clubs Association

Published

1 week ago

January 19, 2025

Kunle Solaja

The African Clubs Association formed in 2023 will have its headquarters in Morocco.

The kingdom beat other bids from Algeria and other African nations. Facilities in Morocco and the country’s organisational standards may have given Morocco the edge.

An official memorandum of understanding will be signed next week on Monday during the draw ceremony for the African Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host.

The establishment of the association’s headquarters in Morocco represents a pivotal moment for African football, aimed at fostering cooperation among clubs across the continent and advancing the sport’s infrastructure and governance.

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