Sports Law Ledger - Monday 15 June 2020
Catchup on the latest sports law, integrity, and commercial news, updates, and alerts (copyright remains the property of respective owners):
AUSTRALIA
Integrity, Anti-Doping - Education and athlete welfare the primary focus of new legislation
Incoming Sport Integrity Australia and current ASADA CEO David Sharpe welcomes the passing of anti-doping law reforms which will strengthen Australia’s capabilities to target facilitators. Mr Sharpe says the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Amendment (Enhancing Australia’s Anti-Doping Capability) Bill 2019 represents “much more than additional powers”.
Integrity, Member Protection, Discrimination - Tayla Harris and her parents speak out about abuse and threats over AFLW photo
AFLW star and professional boxer Tayla Harris and her parents have opened up about the online abuse and physical threats she received over a photo of her kicking a goal. The photo showing Harris kicking the opening goal against the Western Bulldogs in a game last year was swamped by abusive and sexist comments after it was posted on the Seven Network's social media accounts.
Integrity, Member Protection, Discrimination - 'I want accountability': Lumumba calls out Pies, AFL
Heritier Lumumba has challenged former teammates to publicly support him as he calls for the Pies and AFL to be more accountable and inclusive.
Governance - Cricket: Cricket Australia to part ways with chief Kevin Roberts
Sources close to the Cricket Australia board say Roberts' departure is to be announced on Wednesday.
Governance - Cricket: 'Good idea': Eddings to meet with state chairs
Cricket Australia have agreed to a meeting of the game's national cabinet, which will see chairman Earl Eddings front up to unhappy state counterparts.
Governance - Equestrian: Boardroom havoc sends Equestrian Australia into administration
The Board of Equestrian Australia has taken the difficult decision to place Equestrian Australia Ltd into Voluntary Administration. Craig Shepard and Kate Conneely of KordaMentha have been appointed Voluntary Administrators. Clearly, the current EA model does not work.
Governance - Rugby League: Women's Rugby League elite competition confirmed for 2020
The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has approved the continuation of the women’s elite competition (NRLW) for the 2020 season, commencing in September. The ARLC reiterated its strong support for growing the women’s game at both the grassroots and elite level. The announcement comes after the Commission had already approved a stand-alone Women's State of Origin match on Friday November 13.
Governance, Athlete Relations - Football/Soccer: Australian women’s football to be transformed by FFA’s Women’s Football Council 10-year Business Case
In the lead up to the announcement of whether Australia wins its bid to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the FFA Women’s Football Council has today shared its highly anticipated 10-year Business Case for women and girls in football.
Governance, Athlete Relations - Australian Rules Football: Secretive AFL on new collision course with AFL Players’ Association
Players have already agreed to 70% of their pay this season, a 30% cut, and the AFL is now seeking to renegotiate the final two years of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Players have wrote to the AFL on Tuesday requesting five areas of key financial data, most notably specific information on the AFL’s loan facility.
Governance, Athlete Relations - Football/Soccer: A-League season extended as FFA strike deal with players
The deal was signed off on Monday and means the season has officially been extended until August 31, with existing player contracts to be extended until that date. While the financial terms of the deal are unknown, FFA chief executive James Johnson confirmed players had agreed to a reduction in their pay for the additional three months of the campaign.
Governance, Commercial - Rugby Union: Private equity giant, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, in talks with Rugby Australia
The global private equity giant that bought a $4 billion stake in the UFC is in talks with Rugby Australia to make a game-changing investment in the embattled football code
Governance, Commercial, Sponsorship - Australian Rules Football: 'There needs to be a higher standard': Daniher speaks out over AFL's Rio Tinto, BHP ties
Essendon star Joe Daniher has called on the AFL to hold itself and its sponsors to a "higher standard" amid criticism of the league's partnerships with Rio Tinto and BHP after the destruction of ancient Indigenous heritage sites. As players around the competition join in pre-match gestures in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the AFL has been accused of not walking the talk on racism by associating with the mining giants, who have been at the centre of a national outcry this week.
Broadcasting, Commercial - A-League start date set but FFA awaiting Fox Sports commitment
A-League players will resume training this week for a season that still has no broadcast plans in place.
Broadcasting, Commercial - Fox Sports To Broadcast Vodafone Super Rugby Au From July 3
Rugby Australia and the Foxtel Group have reached agreement on a revised broadcast arrangement for 2020 which has given the go-ahead for the proposed Vodafone Super Rugby AU competition to be broadcast on Fox Sports.
Broadcasting, Commercial - AFL secures revised broadcast deal with Seven and Foxtel
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan told clubs on Thursday night that he had agreed to a 12 per cent to 13 per cent discount between the parties over three years, in what is considered to be a good result for the league.
Major Events - Football/Soccer: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Bid Evaluation Report published – three bids submitted to FIFA Council
Australia's hopes of co-hosting the 2023 Women's World Cup with New Zealand has received a significant boost with FIFA rating it the best of the bids. The Australia and New Zealand joint bid topped the scoring over the two remaining bidders, Japan and Colombia.
GLOBAL
Integrity - Fresh Swiss Investigation Targets Ex-FIFA President Blatter
Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the target of a criminal investigation in Switzerland for suspected mismanagement of a $1 million payment from soccer funds. Blatter has been notified by Swiss federal prosecutors he is an “accused person” over a loan FIFA gave in 2010 to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.