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.

On 1 December 2011, footballer Wayne Rooney won the latest round of a legal battle with his former agency. The Court of Appeal handed down judgment in the case of Proactive Sports Management Limited v Rooney [2011] EWCA Civ 1444, an appeal by Proactive in a dispute concerning a contract to exploit Rooney's image rights.