EBL blijft Fantoni en Nunes weren

Lausanne (Zwitserland), 8 februari 2018. De European Bridge League (EBL) blijft de voor valsspelen veroordeelde Monegasken (voorheen Italianen) Fulvio Fantoni en Claudio Nunes weren van bridgewedstrijden onder auspiciën van de EBL, ondanks de vrijspraak in het beroep tegen deze veroordeling bij het Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Dat stelt EBL-voorzitter Yves Aubry in antwoord op vragen van IMP naar aanleiding van de deelname van Fantoni aan het internationale open kampioenschap van Barcelona en de reacties daarop in de bridgewereld (zie ons artikel van 6 februari). IMP-redacteur en uitgever Rob Helle had Aubry de volgende twee vragen gesteld:

• Wat is het officiële EBL-standpunt met betrekking tot deelname van Fulvio Fantoni en/of Claudio Nunes aan evenementen georganiseerd door de EBL?
• Doet Fantoni of Nunes nog mee aan de komende European Winter Games in Monaco? [Organisator] Charles Allavena verklaart dat deelname daaraan geregeld wordt door de EBL.

De antwoorden van Aubry komen erop neer dat de EBL deelname van Fantoni of Nunes zal tegenhouden, namelijk op grond van hun schorsing tot 9 april 2019 door de Italiaanse bridgebond FIBG, die de EBL en de daaronder ressorterende nationale bridgebonden automatisch overnemen. Tegen die Italiaanse schorsing loopt nog een beroep van Fantoni-Nunes bij een Italiaans burgerlijk gerechtshof, maar dat dient pas in december 2018. Daar komt nog bij dat het CAS Fantoni-Nunes weliswaar heeft vrijgesproken wegens onvoldoende bewijs, maar niet heeft gesteld en zelfs niet heeft gesuggereerd dat zij onschuldig zouden zijn aan valsspelen.

De volledige verklaring van Aubry

To resume:

Fantoni-Nunes were sentenced by the EBL Disciplinary Committee in 2016. They appeal to CAS and finally CAS said that EBL has not proved enough with statistics they were cheating, CAS add this does not mean they are innocent of any wrongdoing and if EBL has presented other evidences maybe CAS Award has been different. You sure read the CAS Award and all comments on Bridge Winners.

Fantoni-Nunes were also sentenced 3 times in Italy by FIGB Tribunal Federale and Corto di Appello and by CONI (Italian Olympic Committee). Suspended for 3 years. They made the last possible appeal to TAR (a civil Italian court) who decide to hold a hearing in December 2018 but also reject the request of Fantoni-Nunes not to be suspended during this appeal period. So they are still suspended up to 9 April 2019.

An important point is: the motivations are also based on other facts, based not on the collusive cheating allegations in the Laws of Bridge/EBL DiscCo but rather on general provisions in the CONI Code of Conduct (articles 2 and 3) relating to obligations of loyalty, propriety, etc.

What happens:

Fantoni came to play in Barcelona playing with Miguel Trapé, the President of the Catalan Bridge Federation (not existing for the EBL) Friday 2 February.

I was informed at the end of the 1st session that Fantoni was playing in Barcelona. I was in Belfast for the EBL NBOs Officers’ Seminar.

Immediately during the night (1AM Saturday 3 February) I sent to Miquel Trapé a mail that Fantoni was still suspended up to 9 April 2019.

In the morning (Saturday 3) I received a mail from Miguel Trapé saying that following Fantoni’s Lawyers it was not true and following the CAS award he was able to play.

I sent immediately (Saturday 3) to all EBL NBO’s and to WBF a reminder to explain that, by reciprocity, and following EBL statutes and ByLaws the FIGB decision continues to be effective.

Fantoni Lawyers sent me immediately (Saturday afternoon 3) a long mail contesting this position, with the affirmation that after the decision of CAS, the FIGB decision cannot remain.

Of course EBL Lawyers have many arguments in front of that (not developed here: all is now in the hand of lawyers).

Always by reciprocity WBF published on Tuesday 6 February a statement with the suspension of Fantoni and Nunes up to 9 April 2019 by reciprocity following WBF Constitution.

To answer your 2 questions:

1. EBL will not accept Fantoni or Nunes in any EBL event up to 9 April 2019. And following our EBL Eligibility Code, after the end of the period of suspension, no player sentenced can play with another sentenced player in a pair or as a teammate.

2. It is exact that Winter Games is an EBL official event. I will personally attend the Winter Games in Monaco and the European Championships in Ostend and you can be sure that Fantoni and/or Nunes will not participate in the EBL events.

3. I will add that all NBOs participating in the EBL seminar in Belfast are sharing EBL and WBF position and will take care that these 2 players cannot participate in any event under their authority. And for ACBL the decision of a ban for life is still effective.