Protection of minors: lessons about the FIFA RSTP from the recent Spanish cases at the Court of Arbitration for Sport

The publication of recent CAS awards concerning minors in Spanish football involving two football giants, Fu´tbol Club Barcelona and Real Madrid Club de Fu´tbol, and the national association, The Real Federacio´ Espan˜ola de Fu´tbol, offers a valuable opportunity to analyse the operation of the regulatory regime for the protection of minors under FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). By synthesising legal reasoning used by the CAS Panels and the Sole Arbitrator in three cases, this article presents a holistic view of the regulatory framework for minors established by FIFA which extends beyond Art. 19 of the RSTP and then highlights some important lessons for its operation in practice. The liability of national associations concerning minors, the applicability of the regulatory framework to all minors, and the distinction between the registration requirements of minors in participating in organised football and reporting requirements in relation with minors in academies are all discussed and explained. This paper represents a contribution into a limited literature with regard to both the regulation of minors in football and the analysis of CAS jurisprudence on the topic

A Comparison of Grading Models for Neighborhood Level of Family Housing Units

More recently Turkey has witnessed fast housing development and real estate sector growth because of the mortgage preparations. With this development, property location quality has been considered important for selecting and paying them. This study uses a data set of new single family housing units in Kocaeli University Campus Area. By using 4 location quality criteria, 27 single family housing units are graded at the neighborhood level. It is aimed to examine the applications of grading property at the neighborhood level based on property location quality by testing with three methods. Traditional method and fuzzy logic method were discussed in our antecedent studies. In this study, an easy used numerical calculation method; Neural Networks (NN), is introduced. Its grading performance is compared with the previous methods. NN method is found to be more accurate and realistic than traditional grading approach where its designing stage is more practical and faster than fuzzy logic approach.

A Case of Brucellosis Presenting with Multiple Hypodense Splenic Lesions and Bilateral Pleural Effusions

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease, which mainly present with lymphoreticular system invovement. However any organ system can be attacked by the microorganism. In this paper we present a 52-year-old female patient who was admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department with complaints of fatigue, arthralgias, fever, and weight loss. In the medical examination and radiological analysis bilateral pleural effusions and hepatosplenomegaly were detected. Serum transaminase levels were two times higher than the upper limits of normal. Abdominal ultrasound revealed sludge in the gallbladder and multiple hypodense splenic lesions (the largest was 1 cm in diameter). Brucella melitensis was isolated from the blood culture of the patient. Rifampicin (600 mg/day) and doxycycline (200 mg/day) therapy was started. Follow-up chest radiography and ultrasonography revealed the absence of pleural effusion. Splenic lesions and hepatosplenomegaly were totally regressed. The patient has been followed for 3 months after 6 week antibiotic regimen without recurrence. Brucellosis was expected to be the cause of all pathological signs

Rights, risks, and responsibilities in the recruitment of children within the global football industry

This paper examines children’s engagement with the increasingly global and commercialised football industry. By combining a Global Production Network approach and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child it is argued that, for children’s rights and best interests to be better upheld and realised within the football industry, regulatory conditions need to account for geographical contextuality and incorporate scope for children to inform regulatory frameworks and practice. The paper highlights the importance of designing and implementing research that recognises and operationalises children’s agency, which can both inform and influence regulations and practices, better to reflect children’s best interests.</jats:p

Unpicking match-fixing; a two-country analysis

Unpicking match-fixing; a two-country analysi

Correlación de las ratios de fuerza bilateral e ipsilateral con el equilibrio en atletas femeninas de taekwondo

[ES] Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizarla fuerza isocinética de la rodilla de la pierna dominante (PL) y no dominante (NPL), las ratios de asimetría lateral y examinar su correlación con el equilibrio estático. Dieciséis mujeres atletas de taekwondo (TKD) participaron voluntariamente en el estudio. La fuerza de extensión (Ex) y flexión (Flx) isocinética de la rodilla se midieron en contracciones concéntricas/concéntricas (Con/Con) a velocidades angulares de 60°/s, 180°/s y 240°/s. Se calcularon las ratios ipsilaterales (H/Q) y bilaterales (H/H y Q/Q)isquiotibiales / cuádriceps. Los equilibrios estáticos se determinaron tomando el centro de presión corporal en los ejes X (COPX) e Y (COPY). El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante t-test de muestras pareadas y las tests de correlación de Pearson. Cuando se examinó la fuerza isocinética de la rodilla, se encontró que el parámetro de velocidad angular de 60°/s era significativamente diferente en la fase de Flx, mientras que las velocidades angulares de 180°/s y 240°/s eran significativamente diferentes en la fase de Ex a favor de las PLs. No hubo diferencias significativas en las ratios de fuerza bilateral e ipsilateral de todas las velocidades angulares. Hubo una correlación significativa entre HQ a 240°/s y COPX en términos de ratios de asimetría ipsilateral, y se encontró una correlación significativa entre HH a 60 °/s y COPX en términos de ratios de asimetría bilateral. Se encontró que había diferencias de fuerza entre las PL y NPL, pero no se observó asimetría. No se halló un alto nivel de correlación entre las ratios de asimetría lateral y el equilibrio en atletas femeninas de TKD.[EN] This study aimed to analyze preferred leg (PLs) and non-preferred leg (NPLs)isokineticknee strength, lateralasymmetry ratios and to examine their correlation with static balance. Sixteen female taekwondo (TKD) athletesvoluntarily participated in the study. Kneeisokinetic extension (Ex) and flexion (Flx) strength were measured in concentric / concentric (Con / Con) contractions at angular velocities of 60°/s, 180°/s, and 240°/s. Ipsilateral hamstring/ quadriceps (H/Q) and bilateral (H/H and Q /Q) ratios were calculated. Static balances were determined bytaking thecenter of body pressure in X (COPX) and Y (COPY) axis. Paired samplet-test and Pearson correlation tests were used in statistical analysis. When theisokineticknee strength was examined, it was found that 60°/s angular velocity parameterwas significantly different in Flx phase while 180°/s and 240°/s angular velocities were found to be significantlydifferent in Ex phase in favor of PLs. There was no significance in bilateral and ipsilateral strength ratios of all angularvelocities. There was a significant correlation between 240°/s HQ and COPX in terms of ipsilateral asymmetry ratioswhereas a significant correlation was found between 60°/s HH and COPX in terms of bilateral asymmetry ratios. It wasfound that therewere differences in strength between PL and NPLs, but no asymmetry was observed. There was no high level of correlation between lateral asymmetry ratios and balance in female TKD practitioners.[PT] Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a força isocinética do joelho da perna preferida (PLs) e da perna não preferida (NPLs), as razões de assimetria lateral e examinar a sua correlação com o equilíbrio estático. Dezesseis mulheres atletas de taekwondo (TKD) participaram voluntariamente no estudo. A força de extensão (Ex) e flexão (Flx) isocinética do joelho foram medidas em contrações concêntricas / concêntricas (Con/Con) em velocidades angulares de 60°/s, 180°/s e 240°/s. Foram calculadas as rácios isquiotibiais / quadríceps ipsilaterais (H/Q) e bilaterais (H/H e Q/Q). Os equilíbrios estáticos foram determinados tomando o centro de pressão corporal nos eixos X (COPX) e Y (COPY). O teste t de amostra emparelhada e os testes de correlação de Pearson foram usados na análise estatística. Quando a força isocinética do joelho foi examinada, verificou-se que o parâmetro de velocidade angular de 60°/s foi significativamente diferente na fase Flx, enquanto as velocidades angulares de 180°/s e 240°/s foram significativamente diferentes na fase Ex em favor de PLs. Não houve significância nas rácios de força bilateral e ipsilateral de todas as velocidades angulares. Houve uma correlação significativa entre HQ de 240°/s e COPX, em termos de rácios de assimetria ipsilateral, enquanto uma correlação significativa foi encontrada entre HH de 60°/s e COPX em termos de rácios de assimetria bilateral. Verificou-se que havia diferenças de força entre PL e NPLs, mas nenhuma assimetria foi observada. Não houve um alto nível de correlação entre as rácios de assimetria lateral e equilíbrio em mulheres praticantes de TKD

Issue framing and institutional constraints in EU agenda-setting: an analysis of European Union sports policy

The article uses agenda-setting to analyse the process which saw sport included in the new EU programme, Erasmus+, despite cuts in the EU’s budget. In doing so, the article addresses gaps in two bodies on literature. On the one hand, it contributes to developing the study of EU agenda-setting. On the other hand, the article analyses recent developments in EU sport policy, a body of literature that has not paid attention yet to decisions taken after the entering into force of the Treaty of Lisbon (2009). The article applies conceptually guided process-tracing through written documents and 25 semi-structured interviews with representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The analysis shows how the Commission overcame blockades by framing sport initiatives as part of the wider agenda on economic growth through education, training and participation in grassroots sport, thus obtaining a funding stream for a new policy area in a time of austerity measures. The research illustrates that agenda-setting is a useful conceptual framework to explaining not just radical but also incremental policy changes on the EU agenda

An anatomy of Turkish football match-fixing

While discussion on corruption in sport is intensifying and football match-fixing in particular is attracting increasing attention, new fixing scandals emerge offering new accounts of actors and corrupt practices within the football industry and the level of the external threat to the sport. The scandal exposure of fixed matches in Turkey in 2011 sheds light on the fixing of 17 matches played in the 2010/11 football season and allowed for insights to the actors, structure and processes behind the fix. Following four criminal and seven disciplinary proceedings, the case is still pending appeal for its final decision, involving a total of 93 suspects and having already resulted in the exclusion of two teams from European competitions. The evidence collected by the authorities points towards a hierarchical criminal organisation led by the President of a football club that arranged and coordinated the fixing in order for his team to win the national Championship. The aim of this article is to provide an account of the organisation and coordination of match-fixing in Turkey, with its actors, specifics and criminal characteristics, while offering an examination of match-fixing for sporting success, the least documented type of match-fixing