Governing Bodies
Finally, spectators are barred from all Tokyo 2020 Olympic events
Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa has confirmed that fans will be banned from all Olympic venues in Japanese capital Tokyo in response to the new coronavirus state of emergency.
Organisers had planned to allow 10,000 fans or 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity, but this was under the assumption that Tokyo would not even be under a quasi-state of emergency, and they have performed a U-turn following today’s announcement that Tokyo will be under a state of emergency for the duration of the Games.
It comes amid a fresh spike in COVID-19 infections in Tokyo and on the day International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach arrived in the city.
Tokyo’s state of emergency is provisionally set to end on August 22 – two weeks after the conclusion of the Olympics and two days before the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics.
This new policy was agreed on at a meeting attended by Bach and representatives from the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee, Tokyo 2020, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese Government.
A joint statement between the five parties was released confirming this, while allowing room for other prefectures to allow spectators.
“No spectators will be allowed into any venues in Tokyo during the Olympic Games,” read the statement.
“Under this policy, in areas where emergency measures are not in force, local Government authorities will meet and decide specific measures in consultation with the local governors based on the situation in each area.”
Seiko Hashimoto, President of Tokyo 2020, said she was “sorry” for the ticket holders who could no longer attend the Games.
“It is extremely regrettable that the Games will be staged in a very limited manner in the face of the spread of novel coronavirus infections,” said Hashimoto.
“I am very sorry for ticket holders and local residents who were looking forward to the Games.”
The results of a ticket lottery system was expected to be announced on Saturday (July 10), but this will now be scrapped.
“We have shown this responsibility since the day of the postponement and we will also show it today and we will support any measure which is necessary to have a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games for the Japanese people and all the participants,” said Bach.
In the event of significant change in the state of infection, a meeting between the five parties will be convened immediately to review the spectator capacity.
Yesterday Tokyo reported 920 new COVID-19 infections, registering the highest daily count since mid-May, which factored into the Government’s decision to implement the state of emergency and the ban on spectators at the Games.
Initially, projected ticket revenue for Tokyo 2020 was approximately 90 billion yen (£596 million/$821 million/€692 million).
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8.
A decision was to be made on the policy for the Paralympic Games on July 16, a week before the Olympics Opening Ceremony, however this will now be delayed until after the Olympics ends.
-insidethegames
World football governing body, FIFA, today clocks its 122nd anniversary, celebrating more than a century of overseeing and expanding the global game.
Founded on May 21, 1904, in Paris, France, FIFA began with just seven member associations — France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
From that modest beginning, the organisation has grown into the most influential sports governing body in the world, with 211 member associations spread across all continents.
Over the decades, FIFA has transformed football into a truly global phenomenon through competitions such as the FIFA World Cup, Women’s World Cup, Club World Cup, youth tournaments, and developmental programmes aimed at growing the game worldwide.
The organisation has also witnessed remarkable milestones, including the expansion of the men’s World Cup from 13 teams in 1930 to 48 teams beginning from the 2026 edition to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA’s journey has equally reflected football’s growing influence beyond sport, with the game becoming a major tool for diplomacy, social inclusion, youth empowerment, and economic development across the world.
As FIFA celebrates 122 years of existence, attention is now focused on the future of the game, technological innovations, expanded competitions, women’s football growth, and the continued globalisation of football.
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UEFA has issued a lifetime ban to Petr Vlachovsky, a Czech women’s soccer coach who secretly filmed his players, the governing body announced on Tuesday.
Czech media reported that the coach was convicted in May 2025 and initially received a suspended one-year prison sentence and a five-year domestic coaching ban for filming FC Slovacko’s players in changing rooms, the youngest of whom was 17.
In a statement, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) said it had decided to ban Vlachovsky “from exercising any football-related activity for life” following the appointment of an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to investigate allegations of potential misconduct.
“The CEDB further decided to request FIFA to extend the abovementioned ban on a worldwide level and to order the Football Association of the Czech Republic to revoke Mr Petr Vlachovsky’s coaching licence,” the statement added.
FC Slovacko did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Football players’ union FIFPRO welcomed the ban as well as UEFA’s request for world soccer governing body FIFA to impose an international ban on Vlachovsky.
“This outcome sends a strong and necessary message that abusive and inappropriate behaviour has no place in football and that safeguarding the well-being of players must remain a priority at every level of the game,” FIFPRO added in a statement.
Vlachovsky had also previously served as coach of the Czech women’s Under-19s team.
RELATED STORY: https://sportsvillagesquare.com/2026/04/08/outrage-as-male-coach-who-secretly-filmed-women-players-still-free-to-work-in-football/
-Reuters
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Southampton have been kicked out of the Championship playoff final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough, the English Football League said on Tuesday.
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 to Southampton on aggregate in the semi, have been reinstated and will face Hull City on Saturday in what is dubbed the world’s richest soccer match.
Promotion to the Premier League, even with an immediate relegation, is estimated to be worth in the region of 200 million pounds ($268.10 million) over three seasons.
Southampton, who admitted the charges, were also found guilty of filming training sessions involving Oxford United in December and Ipswich Town in April during the regular season.
They have also been deducted four points from the start of next season in England’s second tier.
“An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the club admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training,” the EFL said.
“Southampton admitted breaches of Regulations requiring Clubs to act with the utmost good faith and prohibiting the observation of another Club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match.
“The effect of today’s order is that Middlesbrough are reinstated into the 2026 play-offs and will proceed to the play-off final against Hull City. The final remains scheduled for Saturday 23 May, with the kick-off time to be confirmed.”
The EFL confirmed that Southampton could appeal against the decision and that “parties are working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday 20 May.
“Subject to the outcome, it could result in a further change to Saturday’s fixture,” the statement said.
‘BORO CALLED FOR SOUTHAMPTON EXPULSION
Middlesbrough had called for Southampton’s expulsion after having a training session at their Rockliffe Park site filmed 48 hours ahead of the first leg of their playoff semi-final with Southampton which ended 0-0.
The north-east club said they welcomed the decision.
“We believe this sends out a clear message for the future of our game regarding sporting integrity and conduct,” the north Middlesbrough said in a statement.
“As a club, we are now focused on our game against Hull City at Wembley on Saturday.”
Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season and were struggling in the early part of this campaign until a storming finish in which they went unbeaten in 19 league games to finish fourth and enter the playoffs.
The south-coast club are the first to fall foul of the Football League’s regulation 127 — brought in after Leeds United were found guilty of spying on Derby County seven years ago, an offence for which they were fined 200,000 pounds.
-Reuters
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