On Friday 30th March 2012 I attended the inaugural Football & the Law Conference at the Radisson Hotel, Manchester, UK hosted by Edge Hill University in co-operation with Brabners Chaffe Street solicitors. The event was designed to respond to the professional needs of those whose work brings them into contact with legal issues relevant to football. 

Sport is a combination of physical and mental activities that is governed by a set of rules or customs with social, educational, entertaining and cultural dimensions.¹ In Greece sport is characterised as a fundamental social right by the State and is protected at a constitutional level._² This article will focus on the recognition of sport as a fundamental right in Greece. In part one of this article the author will examine the most important parts of the Sports Law in Greece (law 2725/1999 ‘the law’), examining how sport institutions are structured in Greece, and how this effects the relationship between the stakeholders in sport.

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.

The Football Association (FA) has ended the captaincy rein of John Terry following the adjournment of his trial for alleged racist comments during Chelsea's league match with Queens Park Ranger's last year (a decision that has also resulted in the resignation of Fabio Capello). Many will argue that the FA was left with no choice. However, the matter once again poses the question as to whether or not governing bodies should stay their own internal processes in circumstances when there is a corresponding criminal investigation against the athlete under their jurisdiction.

2011 was an interesting sporting year from a legal perspective. Thomas Eggar have picked out what they consider to be the five most significant cases and trends of 2011.