Arbitrators rule in favour of players in dispute over World Cup bonus Former Trinidad and Tobago national goalkeeper and 2006 World Cup star Shaka Hislop expressed relief at the judgment from the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel (SDRP), which, he felt, justified the players’ decision to seek legal action in their bonus dispute with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation Vice President kicked out of Badminton World Federation Long term internal wrangling and tension inside the Badminton World Federation and its administration has for the time being come to an end. The now former vice president, Datuk Punch Gunalan of Malaysia, has been ousted from the federation after a vote of no confidence. Badminton leaders are optimistic that transparency and democracy will now find their way in the federation.
Taxpayers and residents will pay dearly for Sochi Winter Games In 2014, the Russian resort of Sochi will host the Winter Olympics. But already this mega-event looks set to cost Russian taxpayers more money than the combined costs of the last three Winter Olympics, and up to 4,000 local residents face evictions with compensation far below current market values.
Fight over rights to cover sports events moved into EU Parliament Principles of independent journalism won in the latest skirmish between sports federations and media organisations about the rights to cover sport events. The battle took place in the European Parliament where members voted on amendments to a report on the European Commission’s White Paper on Sport which could have introduced new intellectual property rights to sport events.
Speed’s departure highlights divisions over Zimbabwe at ICC Malcolm Speed has been placed on ‘gardening leave’ for his remaining two months as chief executive of the International Cricket Council. His position became untenable after infighting within the organisation over how to proceed following an independent ICC audit of Zimbabwe Cricket found “severe financial irregularities” within the organisation.
FIVB president’s plan to retire may just be a power game In a surprising press release, the president of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Ruben Acosta, has declared that he plans to retire from his post at the FIVB Congress in Dubai in June. However, long-time critics of Acosta’s regime fear that the announcement is part of a power game and that Acosta has no real plans to give up his position in FIVB.
Pistorius appeal successful against IAAF ban South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, a double-amputee, has successfully appealed against a ban imposed upon him by the International Association of Athletics Federations. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has ruled that there was insufficient scientific evidence available to ban Pistorius’s ‘Cheetah blades’ as technical aids, meaning he is eligible to compete against able-bodied athletes. However, his admission has stoked debate in paralympic sport over the appropriateness of Pistorius’s participation at the Olympics.
IHF backs Greenland over continental handball federation membership The Greenland Handball Federation has won its year-long dispute with the Pan-American Team Handball Federation over the continental handball federation’s decision to reduce Greenland’s membership status from full to associate. Also on Play the Game... Indian Hockey Federation suspended after bribery scandal Indian Premier League signals new era in world cricket Betting industry leader calls for sport world anti-corruption agency | 
