Grant's lifetime ban has been upheld by CAS.
The life ban imposed on Rosnick Grant, the former vice president of the Haitian Football Federation, has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, the fine imposed on Grant has been significantly reduced, CAS said in a release on Thursday.
This decision comes a few weeks after another CAS decision concerning the former President of the FHF, Mr. Yves Jean-Bart, who was released from the sanctions imposed on him by FIFA due to insufficient evidence. That CAS decision is currently being appealed to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.
CAS said the Arbitral Panel found that the evidence against Mr. Grant regarding the sexual abuse charges was sufficiently convincing and that, as a result, the sanction imposed on him by the Court should be confirmed, with the exception of the fine, which was reduced to 35,000 Swiss Francs.
Grant, the former Vice-President and Head of Referees of the Haitian Football Federation (FHF), was banned by the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee for violation of Article 23 (protection of physical and mental integrity) and Article 25 (abuse of power) of the FIFA Code of Ethics in connection with acts of harassment, sexual abuse, threats and coercion against female referees.
The fine of 100,000 Swiss Francs was initially imposed on Mr. Grant. That has been reduced to 35,000 Swiss Francs.
In May 2020, the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Mr. Yves Jean-Bart, former President of the FHF, who was suspected of having coerced several female players from the National Technical Centre in Croix-des-Bouquets into having sexual relations with him.
During the proceedings, the Investigatory Chamber identified Mr. Grant as one of the perpetrators of sexual abuse and opened an investigation against him in August 2020. On 22 July 2021, based on the final report of the FIFA Ethics Committee, the testimony of a victim, the statements of Mr. Grant, and the statements of the Chairman of the Investigation Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, the Adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee issued the Challenged Decision.
On October 6, 2021, Mr Grant filed an appeal at CAS requesting the annulment of the Challenged Decision, claiming that he was innocent of the charges against him. A CAS Panel of three arbitrators, composed of Mr Alexander McLin, President (Switzerland/USA), Prof. Gérald Simon (France) and Mr José J. Pintó (Spain), was constituted to decide the appeal.
A hearing was held on 15 and 16 February 2023, during which numerous witnesses were heard, some of whom benefited from special protective measures.
As a basis for its decision, the Arbitral Panel considered the testimony of a victim, who had travelled to Switzerland for the hearing, to be accurate, coherent and credible. The Panel also noted the inconsistency and imprecision in the statements of the witnesses called by Mr. Grant, most of whom stated, in a contradictory and unconvincing manner, that the accusations against Mr. Grant were the result of a conspiracy against him.
Finally, the Arbitral Panel found that the fine imposed on Mr. Grant was disproportionate to the salary conditions he was subject to in Haiti. In conclusion, the Arbitral Panel found that the evidence against Mr. Grant regarding the sexual abuse charges was sufficiently convincing and that, as a result, the sanction imposed on Mr Grant by the Court should be confirmed, with the exception of the fine, which was reduced.
Jarrod Bowen nets late winner as West Ham win Europa Conference League
Jarrod Bowen’s last-minute winner saw West Ham end their 43-year wait for a trophy with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
The Hammers won a first piece of silverware since 1980’s FA Cup, and a first European trophy since 1965, on a historic and emotional night in Prague.
Yes, it may be only Europe’s third-tier competition, the one treated as an unwanted distraction by Tottenham, among others, in its inaugural form last season.
But this is West Ham. The West Ham who routinely see relegation as an occupational hazard. The West Ham who made a song and dance of leaving their old stadium and an almighty hash of moving into the new one. The West Ham who had to go begging to their former manager to save them from the drop, 18 months after they got rid of him when he had done just that.
Just nine weeks ago that same manager watched as the away fans unfurled a ‘Moyes Out’ banner during a scratchy 1-0 win over Fulham, which likely saved his job.
Now David Moyes has written his name in West Ham folklore, joining Ron Greenwood and John Lyall as trophy-winning Hammers managers. A place in next season’s Europa League means the club has qualified for Europe three seasons in a row, for the first time.
And what a way to sign off for Declan Rice, destined to leave this summer but with the legacy of becoming only the third captain, along with Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, to lift silverware in the club’s 128-year history.
The Hammers have given their fans, 5,000 of whom were – officially at least – in attendance and the 20,000-or so who just wanted to be in Prague for their first European final in 47 years, the ride of their lives.
Fiorentina’s Cristiano Biraghi struck by object thrown from West Ham fans
The Europa Conference League final was stopped briefly after West Ham fans threw objects towards Fiorentina’s players.
Plastic pint glasses were hurled from the West Ham end throughout the first half at the Eden Arena in Prague.
Referee Carlos Del Cerro Grande eventually halted play after Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was hit by another missile as he went to take a corner shortly before half-time.
Biraghi had suffered a cut to the back of his head and required treatment and a bandage.
A message over the PA system urged supporters to stop throwing objects on to the pitch and to respect the players, before play eventually resumed with the score still 0-0.
I am going to Miami – Lionel Messi heading for MLS after Paris St Germain exit
Lionel Messi has announced he is to join Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
The 35-year-old Argentina forward had been strongly linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, to join a league which already features Cristiano Ronaldo and now Karim Benzema.
However, with Messi’s two-year contract at Paris St Germain coming to an end this month, the World Cup winner confirmed in a joint interview with Spanish publications Mundo Deportivo and Sport he was set to head to the United States.
“I made the decision that I am going to go to Miami,” Messi said.
“I still haven’t closed it one hundred per cent. I’m missing some things, but we decided to continue on the path.”
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
