Criticism of Referees Protected Under Freedom of Expression, ...
The court said referees can face harsh criticism, but corruption claims need factual support, and it ordered Portugal to repay a 15,300-euro fine.
- On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that criticizing football referees is protected speech, though suggesting officials are corrupt or criminal exceeds those protections.
- The Strasbourg-based court reviewed cases brought by Porto after Portuguese authorities punished media outlets for attacking referees following matches involving their bitter rival, Benfica.
- Ordering repayment of €15,300 , the court ruled that "mere refereeing errors" do not prove the "scheme alleged" by applicants without factual basis.
- Judges found in favor of the club newsletter Dragoes Diario regarding a 2019 article published after Benfica won 4-1 at Feirense, deeming the remarks acceptable fan talk.
- Referees in high-ranking competitions face public exposure, the court noted, and are subject to wider limits of acceptable criticism than ordinary citizens under the European Convention.
11 Articles
11 Articles
In a decision handed down on Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights held that criticism of an alleged lack of impartiality of a football arbitrator fell within the scope of freedom of expression... But not the unsubstantiated accusations of corruption and manipulation. The Portuguese authorities are therefore obliged to pay financial compensation to the leaders of FC Porto, who had brought the case before the international court. - Criticiz…
On Tuesday 7 July, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that certain criticisms of arbitration do not fall within the scope of freedom of expression, such as those of corruption, paving the way for legal proceedings.
On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) corrected a sentence imposed on the directors of FC Porto following statements made in the media criticizing the actions of the arbitrators and the arbitration system as a whole, and ruled that criticizing the arbitrators is part of freedom of expression.
Criticizing and insulting football referees is a right protected by freedom of expression, but suggesting that officials are corrupt or criminals is crossing the line, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday.
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