Governing Bodies
German athlete body slams IOC over “prison-like conditions” at Tokyo 2020
Athleten Deutschland has slammed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing athletes to spend their quarantine period in “prison-like conditions” at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics here.
The German athlete body claims there is an “insufficient provision of fresh air” in quarantine hotels with athletes feeling “left alone” and forced to clean their clothes in the sink.
Measures imposed on those that tested positive for COVID-19 have been described as “grotesque” by the Athleten Deutschland.
It has now called on the IOC to “urgently push for substantial improvement” in quarantine conditions amid concerns from athletes.
Anyone from overseas arriving in Japan for the Games are expected to follow strict COVID-19 protocols during their time at Tokyo 2020.
But Athleten Deutschland has revealed it has received reports from athletes over “a lack of supply of basic necessities”.
Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs, among the athletes to have been ruled out of competing at Tokyo 2020 after testing positive for COVID-19, described the quarantine conditions as “inhuman”.
“In the current quarantine hotel, for example, there is an insufficient provision of fresh air,” a statement from Athleten Deutschland read.
“The food supply is neither rich nor balanced and does not meet the specific nutritional requirements of high-performance athletes.
“Athletes who have resumed training activities in their rooms have to clean their sweaty clothes in the sink, which hardly dry afterwards.
“They feel left alone, having to obtain a lot of information on their own.
“It is unclear to them what the exact procedure of quarantine is and what steps have to be taken after it is over.
“We have been told of language barriers in communication with medical staff.”
Athleten Deutschland insists “there is no question” that the strict quarantine requirements must be adhered to at the Games following a positive COVID-19 test in a bid to ensure it does not become a “global super-spreader event”.
The organisation adds that athletes do not anticipate being put up in luxury hotels but expect organisers will provide “adequate quarantine conditions” that meet their “legitimate physical and psychological needs”.
“The IOC has refrained from developing a Plan B from the very beginning and therefore has a special responsibility towards all those involved, including the athletes,” said Maximilian Klein, representative for international sport policy at Athleten Deutschland.
“It generates billions in revenue from their work and their performance without letting them participate in the profits as essential contributors.
“On top, the IOC has also dumped the residual risks from heat and COVID-19 on the athletes through liability waivers.
“It therefore appears grotesque that athletes who test positive have to spend their quarantine in prison-like conditions, while IOC members stay in expensive luxury hotels and are provided with high daily allowances.”
Athleten Deutschland claims the IOC “neglected” the quarantine conditions in the planning of the Games and believes it did not use its capabilities to implement acceptable solutions with those in charge.
In response, IOC Presidential spokesperson Mark Adams expressed his sympathy for those having to quarantine and claimed measures were being taken to improve their experience.
“It is always concerning, but there are extra measures that have to be taken in terms of isolation,” Adams said.
“We fully sympathise with everyone in this situation.
“There are certain regulations that the Japanese authorities imposed.
“The relevant stakeholders are able to have contact with their people who are in isolation.
“We understand it is not easy but it has to be within the Japanese rules and regulations.”
Two athletes from Trinidad and Tobago, 400 metres hurdler Sparkle Ann McKnight and long jumper Andwuelle Wright, were unable to compete in athletics events today after testing positive for COVID-19.
They became the latest athletes to be forced out of the Games because of a positive test for the novel coronavirus.
More than 20 athletes have been ruled out of Tokyo 2020 because of COVID-19, either after testing positive before travelling or in the Japanese capital.
Organisers today confirmed there had been 21 more positive COVID-19 cases in Japan among those accredited for the Games since July 1, bringing the total in that period to 246.
The IOC has claimed the number of infections is what it had been expecting and is proof that the rules in place at the Games, which have been criticised by health experts in Japan, are working.
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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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