A few weeks ago, for the first time, a professional American sportsman from one of the four major team sports in the US (basketball, baseball, American football and ice hockey) publicly announced that he is gay.  Jason Collins, an NBA basketball player, said in a recent interview: “I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay”¹.  It is fair to say that the reaction to this news has not been unequivocally supportive.

Employment law specialist Richard Williams examines the legal issues surrounding the hot topic of managerial changes in football. In this first part he takes a look at the legality of a new manager seeking to bring with him from his former club his players and/or backroom staff.

In this article Takuya Yamazaki, private practice lawyer and member of FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, provides a fascinating insight into the development of professional sports players’ rights in Japan focussing on baseball and football. Part 2 begins by concluding the analysis of the rights of Japanese baseball players by setting out the current regime for Japanese baseball players and how their image rights are treated. There will then be analysis of Japanese football players’ legal status and rights.

The recent well publicised contract negotiations between Munster and South African national BJ Botha regarding an extension to his contract with the province have again focused the spotlight on the Irish Rugby Football Union’s (‘IRFU’) controversial Player Succession Strategy and its potential infringement of both EU and domestic Irish law. This article examines the new strategy from the perspective of Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (hereinafter “TFEU”)¹ and its likely infringement of the provisions pertaining to it.

The recent controversy surrounding the injury-forced retirement of England rugby international, Hendre Fourie, and the immigration complications arising as a result has sparked considerable debate. The case drew attention to contentious issues including the eligibility criteria for international rugby and the application of UK immigration rules to high profile sportsmen and women from outside the European Union (who do not possess UK nationality).

On Friday 16th November, in a London hotel, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet two stars of Major League Baseball (MLB), Rick Vandenhurk, a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates & Chris Dickerson, an outfielders for the New York Yankees. Both where in London as part of the European Big League Tour (EBLT), an organisation founded by Vadenhurk, a Dutch national, who wanted to organise free clinics with All-Stars from the MLB for kids in his home country The Netherlands and the rest of Europe.

At the start of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season, a significant rule was introduced that could have important legal consequences within English football. The Premier League Handbook 2010/11 (Section L) introduced a rule which stated that each Premier League club must submit a Squad List of 25 players. Any players deemed surplus to requirements and who were omitted from the Squad List would not be able to play in any Premier League games until at least the next transfer window.

As the football season kicks off, no doubt the bookies will speculating as to which manager will be the first to go; which teams will have the poor start that gives the chairman an itchy trigger finger? Richard Santy, partner and head of the Sports Group at Shoosmiths, considers how to prevent employment law requirements making an ugly mess of the beautiful game.

Employment law specialist Richard Williams examines the legal issues surrounding the hot topic of managerial changes in football. In this second and final part of this article Richard will be explaining the legal operation of release fees and the different ways in which managers approach resignation.

In this article Takuya Yamazaki, private practice lawyer and member of FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, provides a fascinating insight into the development of professional sports players’ rights in Japan focussing on baseball and football. In this third and final Part Takuya gazes into the future and predicts the legal future for professional baseball and football players in Japan.

In this article Takuya Yamazaki, private practice lawyer and member of FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber, provides a fascinating insight into the development of professional sports players’ rights in Japan focusing on baseball and football. Part 1 provides the legal background before detailing the legal hurdles Japanese baseball players have had to overcome.

In January it emerged that former Channel 4 horse-racing pundit John McCririck is chomping at the bit to sue Channel 4 and a second company, IMG Sports Media, for age discrimination (and presumably unfair dismissal) over its/their decision to fire him last year. He is the latest in a line of television presenters to claim age discrimination.

Four National Football League (NFL) players who played for the New Orleans Saints between 2009 and 2011 were suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for their alleged participation in a pay-for-injury program, in a saga that became known as "Bountygate."  The ensuing appeals process and legal battles recently came to an end on December 11 with a ruling by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue that the punishment for the players should be vacated.

With the London Olympic and Paralympic Games now less than 6 months away businesses are being urged by the organisers to put in place measures for coping with the challenges which could arise during the Games. According to Deloittes, in a report following a survey last year, over two thirds of UK businesses expected the Games to have virtually no impact on their ability to operate as usual and had no plans for dealing with the potential disruption or any employee relations issues which may occur. However, in a survey in January this year, Deloittes found that most businesses have now assessed or intend to assess the impact the Games will have. So, what should employers be doing in this regard and what, if any measures, should they be taking?

1eagu3 was formed in January 2012 to represent the rights and interests of Super League players in England.  Spearheaded by England captain Jamie Peacock and St Helen’s forward Jon Wilkin, 1eagu3 has been branded a “breakaway group” by the GMB, the UK’s biggest trade union.  GMB, who according to their website, has over 610,000 members working across every part of the UK economy, has criticised those behind the formation of the new union of creating an elitist organisation.  Claiming to already represent over 800 rugby league players, the GMB says that this splinter group will not have the resources or expertise to properly cater for its members’ interests.