FIDE to launch investigation into Carlsen and Niemann

https://new.chess24.com/wall/news/fide-to-launch-investigation-into-carlsen-and-niemann

Klaus Deventer, a member of FIDE's Fair Play Commission (FPL) told the site:

"Are there enough facts to justify an allegation of cheating? If we conclude that this is the case, we would bring appropriate charges with the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Committee. However, we would also investigate whether a false accusation has been made."

This could backfire severely.

„Both Carlsen and Niemann could face suspensions: Carlsen for making allegations without evidence, and Niemann if there is sufficient evidence of cheating.“

https://lichess.org/forum/general-chess-discussion/who-brings-chess-into-more-disrepute-karjakin-or-carlsen#1

Here is the Statement from FIDE itself.
https://www.fide.com/news/2015

I'd be interested to know if FIDE could sanction Niemann based purely upon evidence provided by chess.com.

i.e. Could they suspend him purely for online play on a platform which doesn't constitute an official FIDE event?

Maybe they can, just on a general "bringing the game into disrepute" charge. However, it's probably Carlsen who has more to fear based upon his unsubstantiated allegation.

Weird things re this case:-

Why was Carlsen happy to play him a couple of weeks before yet pulls out of a tournament following an OTB defeat?

Why did chess.com ban him from online play after Carlsen's actions in an OTB event?

Carlsen pulled out because he had been affected by hans' cheating. we tend to tolerate the wrongdoing of others so long as it doesn't affect us. Once it does, we become angry.

chesscom is run by children who want to suck up to magnus.

Edit: Magnus even said that Hans' behavior during the game changed his perspective. I guess before Magnus had suspicions, but Hans' was acting so unusually that his suspicions became a conviction.

@MidiChlorianCount said in #5:

I'd be interested to know if FIDE could sanction Niemann based purely upon evidence provided by chess.com.
Of course not. chess.com is not operated nor sanctioned by FIDE. disciplinary actions for violation for TOS in chess.com belong only to chess.com.

For take any of chess.com evidence into account the method should public reviewed and accepted by fair play commission. And only if that evidence would constitute on something that happened in FIDE events

The recent C-squared podcast provides a lot of background and insight that I haven't seen elsewhere. If you're interested in this topic, it's worth listening to.

Took FIDE an awful time to react.

I hope they make a movie about this when its all sorted out