football – FairSquare

International Olympic Committee should call on France to overturn hijab ban in advance of Paris 2024

FairSquare has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urging it to publicly call on the French authorities to overturn a ban on its athletes wearing the hijab and to impose sanctions on the hosts of the Paris 2024 Olympics if they fail to do so.

UK: Call to remove clause in new bill that could increase state ownership of English football clubs

FairSquare, in partnership with ALQST for Human Rights and NUFC Against Sportswashing, has urged the UK government, in a letter sent on 9 April 2024, to remove a clause from its Football Governance Bill that could have the effect of increasing state ownership of English football clubs.

UEFA: Ad hoc rule-making leading to dangerous double standards

Divergent responses to serious violations of international law by Russia and Israel underscore need for clear and objective rules and processes.

FairSquare has written to UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin requesting an immediate clarification on the rules and policies guiding UEFA’s suspension of teams from its competitions.

Sport is sailing rudderless into geopolitical storms

In an article published on the Asser International Sports Law Blog, FairSquare director Nick McGeehan argues that sport’s responses to Russia and Israel show how the absence of rules makes FIFA and the IOC tools of the global north.

Manchester’s political leaders should use influence to call for release of detained UAE activists

A coalition of five human rights NGOs has urged Manchester City Council to make a public call on the government of the United Arab Emirates to release Ahmed Mansoor and others in the UAE who have been unfairly imprisoned for expressing criticism of its government.

Lack of civic leadership has enabled Manchester and Newcastle sportswashing projects

FairSquare report provides further evidence of the harms of state ownership of football clubs

A new report published today finds that political leaders in Manchester and Newcastle have not only declined multiple opportunities to use their positions of influence to express criticism of serious and systematic human rights abuses in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, but have effectively assisted these two deeply abusive and profoundly anti-democratic states’ efforts to set up ‘soft power enclaves’ in cities with proud histories of protest and dissent.

Call on UK government to prohibit and phase out state ownership of football clubs

Systemic stability not possible with nation state involvement

FairSquare has this week written to Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, urging the UK government to outlaw state ownership of English football clubs.

Call on UEFA to protect competition integrity

Qatari state takeover of Manchester United would strengthen autocrats’ grip on the game

FairSquare has written to UEFA to call on European football’s governing body to outline a clear public position prohibiting a Qatari state takeover of Manchester United.