Sexual abuse, harassment and exploitation are no longer subject to a statute of limitations in the FIFA Code of Ethics.
“The amendments guarantee stronger protections for certain parties in proceedings before FIFA’s judicial bodies and give FIFA further tools against illegal, immoral or unethical methods and practices.”, announced the world association. The changes decided in December last year have been in effect since February 1st.
In its previous code of ethics, FIFA had set statutes of limitations for various offenses in football. In general, violations of the code of conduct will no longer be prosecuted after five years. In addition to the existing exceptions such as bribery (ten years), the new version of the Code includes “crimes in connection with threats, promises of benefits, coercion and all forms of sexual abuse, harassment and exploitation”.