FIFA President Sepp Blatter pledged to make available "all the resources its new investigators need to probe wrongdoing" at football's governing body, according to Tariq Panja of BLOOMBERG. On July 17, FIFA named former U.S. attorney Michael Garcia as head investigator for its ethics committee, and German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert to lead the adjudicatory branch "in an overhaul of the way it investigates and prosecutes wrongdoing." Blatter said, "We have to put all resources at their disposal, so they can do their job. Naturally there's a budget there, otherwise you cannot do the job. It's not just to phone somebody, you have to work on that, you know how investigations are made" (BLOOMBERG, 7/25).
FINE LEVIED: Following the opening of disciplinary proceedings against Italy's Antonio Cassano for a discriminatory press statement (Art. 11bis of the Disciplinary Regulations) during Euro 2012, the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has imposed a fine of €15,000 ($18,200) on the player. An appeal can be lodged against the decision within three days of the dispatch of the full written decision (UEFA).
