Legal issues in football - essential reading for football lawyers and agents
With the commercial success of the global football industry the legal structures that underpin the regulatory, governance and commercial frameworks in the sport have become more complex as governing bodies, leagues, sponsors, broadcasters, clubs, coaches, players and agents look to take advantage of the opportunities this success brings.
Therefore we have pulled together over 200 articles and podcasts that help explain the key legal issues in football and provide practical advice on to deal with these legal issues as they arise.
We hope these articles will be a helpful resource for those involved in football. However, we appreciate there may be some areas that you would like to know more about that we haven't covered. Therefore if you do have any feedback or comments please either leave a comment at the end of the bottom of the page or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We will be periodically updating this collation with new articles as they are published. The LAST UPDATE was on the 22 April 2021.
FOOTBALL LAW CONFERENCE 2021
LawInSport’s Football Law Digital Conference will take place from the 20th-26th May 202. For further information click here.
PRESENTATIONS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS FROM THE 6TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE – UNDERSTANDING THE RULES OF THE GAME 2020
- Media Rights - What is the future of sports media rights?
- Player Data - What are the legal rights to player data?
- Artificial Intelligence - Legal considerations for sport
- Tax - how are tax authorities changing their approach to sports organisations and athletes
- Financial regulation and salary caps
- Private equity investment in sport
PRESENTATIONS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS FROM THE FOOTBALL LAW DIGITAL CONFERENCE 2020
- Regulating and Educating Football Agents
- Manager and Backroom Staff Contracts
- Key changes to FIFA Regulations
- Player Rights: Duty of Care and Return to Play
- Match-Fixing in Football
- Safeguarding Players and Staff
- Taxation and Player Transfers
- Dealing with Racism in Football
- Reputation Management
- Sponsorship Developments
- Developments in Media Rights and the Gambling Industry
- Brand Protection Workshop
- In-House Counsel Forum
- Women’s Football
- The WADA Code and Football
- Financing Football Clubs
- Financial Control and Regulation of Football Clubs
- Player Contracts: Transfer of Players, Sell-on Clauses and Solidarity Payments
- Liquidation and Administration in Football
- Investing in Technology in Football
PRESENTATIONS & PANEL DISCUSSIONS FROM THE FOOTBALL LAW CONFERENCE 2019
- Moving players: Immigration & tax update
- Dispute Resolution: Football case law update
- Are agents a necessity in modern football? (Debate)
- Financing, buying and running football clubs
- Governance & regional development of football
- Transfer of minors & safe sport - finding the right balance
- Creating inclusive football- what steps need to be taken
- Integrity Update: match-fixing & doping
- Running and maintaining club & player foundations-charities
- Developments in player & managers contracts
- Insurance: Liability for injury to players and loss of income to club
- Stadium development: Planning for domestic and international requirements for stadium safety
- How to build an in-house legal team within clubs
- Investigation Update
- Media rights: Cross comparison of buying, selling and distribution across for clubs, leagues and federations
NEW ARTICLES
- A full review of Man City v UEFA CAS Award – why this is not the end of FFP
- Would FIFA’s newly proposed agents’ regulations comply with German & EU law?
- Gender equality in football - how we negotiated equal rights for the Matildas & Socceroos
- Brexit means Brexit, but what does it mean for the Premier League and its players?
- How the Brazilian Football Association has regulated bridge transfers
- What it takes to sponsor Liverpool Football Club (why New Balance failed to match Nike’s offer)
- Why FIFA should reform football's training compensation regulations
- Bury Beware: lessons on the importance of good governance from Bury F.C.’s football league expulsion
- Argentine Football Association and Player´s Union reach agreement on pregnancy rights for players
- Protecting exclusivity in sports data rights: are courtsiding spotters a step too far for UK football fans?
- How do football lawyers differ to football agents? An interview with Daniel Geey
- Views on the football market from a top agent: An interview with Erkut Sögüt – agent for Mesut Ozil
- An overview of FIFA’s ‘Phase 2’ reforms – agents, loans and clearing house
- A review of The FA’s suspension of Peter Beardsley for misconduct
- What can football clubs do when medical treatment given to a player by a third party goes wrong?
- Why FIFA needs to provide a specific regulatory framework for football coaches (the difficulties in resolving club-coach disputes and the application of Swiss law)
- Training compensation and solidarity payments - FIFA activates Article 13 to help clubs fast-track disputes
- How footballers transferring to Italy can benefit from the country’s new income tax regime for sportspersons
- Controversy in African football: Why the 2019 Champions League final highlights fundamental concerns over due process at CAF
- State aid in Spanish football - EU General Court overrules European Commission on Barcelona and Real Madrid decisions
- FIFA’s clearing house: the future of solidarity mechanism & training compensation
- The legality of geo-blocking: could Sky’s recent commitments in the “Pay-TV” case impact European sports broadcasting?
- Tackling match-fixing in Switzerland: the new duties on International Sports Federations to monitor & report suspected match manipulations
- French sports fans have image rights too: balancing personal privacy against the public’s right to be informed
- Taxation of image rights agreements – vital lessons for football clubs and players from the Hull City Tigers v HMRC decision
- Payments to football agents: what clubs & players need to know about HMRC’s new guidance
- Third-party influence in player's transfer agreement found to breach FIFA regs: Palmeiras v FIFA
- Tackling Football Violence In Cyprus: How Controversial Fan ID Cards Have Impacted The Game
- How Europe’s Major Football Leagues Are Regulating Fixtures & Sanctioning Clubs For Outbreaks Of Covid-19
- Newcastle United Takeover: Why The Premier League Should Amend Its Rules On The Appointment & Challenge Of Arbitrators
- Fantasy Premier League: Do Footballers Have An Obligation To Protect Team News?
- From Rags To Riches: What Next For Salary Caps In Football?
- How The French Professional Football League Is Evolving Its Broadcasting Rights Structure
- A Guide To How 'State Aid' Law Impacts European Sports Organisations
- How Sports Leagues & Federations Around The World Are Sanctioning Players Breaking Covid-19 Rules
- The FA V Nathaniel Mendez-Laing – A New Approach To Substances Of Abuse In Sport
- Game Theory & The Beautiful Game: Ibrahimovic, EA Sports And Collective Bargaining Of Image Rights
- Sports Stadia Development & The Dangers Of Restrictive Covenants: Lessons From The Bath Rugby Club Case
- FIFA’s Solidarity Mechanism And Problems Arising On Exchange Of Players (The Ante Rebic Case)
- Fighting Match Forfeits For Covid-19: The Cases Of St Mirren & Kilmarnock FC
- The Relationship Between Data Protection And Referee Reports In English Football
- A Guide To FIFA’s Eligibility Regulations For International Football
- Conflicts Of Interest In Football Governance – Are More Independent Directors The Solution?
- Betting On Inside Information In Football: Lessons From The Trippier And Sturridge Cases
- 2021 WADA Code – Reduced Sanctions For Substances Of Abuse, Multiple Violations And Recreational Athletes
- Sanctioning Footballers For Social Media Posts: PSG & Neymar V UEFA
- Who Is Competent To Decide Upon The “Sporting Successor” Of A Football Club?
- Annual Review On Sports Dispute Resolution In China (2020)
- Analysis Of FIFA’s 2021 Regulatory Changes – Female Players, Coaches, Brexit And More
- Regulating Against Competition Manipulation In Sport
- A Review Of FIFA’s Minor Application Guide For U18 International Transfers
- When Football Administrators End Up In Prison - The Ongoing Case Of Racing De Santander’s Former Managers
- Why The Competition Appeal Tribunal Refused Football DataCo’s Application To Transfer Sportradar’s Claim To The High Court
- Creating A Level Playing Field? Athletes Turning To Courts To Protect Their Employment Law Rights
- A Guide To The New Immigration Rules For Players Coming To The Premier League And EFL
- Sports Investigations: The Risky Business Of Deleting Phone Apps
- Special Purpose Acquisition Companies: Are Football Clubs Going (Back) To The Stock Market?
- FIFA’s Normalisation Committees – What Are They And How Do They Work?
- Claiming Commission On Football Sponsorship Deals: Lessons For Agencies & Clubs From Winlink V Liverpool FC
- Key Trends In Sports Broadcasting: Does The Model Really Need To Change?
- Trinidad And Tobago Football Association V. FIFA – The Validity Of Normalisation Committees And Exclusive Jurisdiction Of CAS
- Why Football’s New Handball Rule Is Proving So Controversial
- Cyber Threats To Sports Organisations (And Key Steps To Reduce Exposure)
- Discrimination In Football: A Guide To The FA’s New Charging Policies And Sanctioning Guidelines
- How COVID-19 Is Impacting Commercial Sports Contracts
- Freedom Of Speech Vs. Employment Obligations In Germany – The Cases Of Joshiko Saibou & Jadon Sancho
- How Would A Private Equity Firm Invest In The English Football League?
- When Can Sports Organisations Dismiss Employees Without Fault?
- How Public Procurement Law Applies To Sports Governing Bodies: The CJEU's Ruling On The Italian Football Federation
- Criminal Prosecution Of UK Football Agents: How FA Regulations Overlap The Bribery Act
- What Schools Need To Know About Head Injuries Caused By Contact Sports
- COVID-19 And Its Impact On Football - A Sports Law And Policy Centre And LawInSport Joint Survey - 4th Edition
- Indian football’s roadmap to reform: how the ISL and I-League will work together
- Profit & sustainability in the EFL: decisions against Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan & Birmingham
- M&A in Sports: has COVID-19 moved the goalposts?
- Artificial intelligence in sports – the legal and ethical issues at play
- What is an independent and duly constituted National Dispute Resolution Chamber in football?
- The curious case of Wigan Athletic and the English Football League’s owners & directors test
- Why long-term private equity capital in sport is a potential game changer
- Why WADA 2021’s new ‘Substances of Abuse’ regime needs urgent clarity
- The duty to cooperate - questions arising from the Man City v UEFA decision
- Sports safety: should it be mandatory to report child protection & safeguarding concerns?
- Fighting corruption in sport: key elements of match manipulation
- From Milan to Miami: an Inter-national trademark battle
- Fighting corruption in sport: an introduction to match manipulation
- A guide to the US models for Major League Soccer and United Soccer League
- UEFA’s 2020/21 competition eligibility guidelines and possible legal challenges by clubs
- Football Manager & Man United - how IP connects the virtual and real football worlds
- São Paulo FC score victory in Chilean trademark infringement case
- Insolvency in the EFL - the Football Creditors Rule and laws protecting players & staff
- Can disgruntled football clubs challenge Project Restart? Exploring the duty of ‘utmost good faith’ in the EFL & Premier League
- Can sports clubs compel players to return to play and waive health and safety liability?
- Italian tax: the continuing investigations into agents’ fees paid by football clubs (2020 update)
- Win-win: a progressive approach to maternity & paternity rights for professional athletes
- COVID-19: the impact on players’ contractual rights & obligations (key principles from case law)
- Switching nations: why FIFA’s definition of ‘nationality’ is causing confusion
- Can player contracts be made conditional on passing a medical examination? Comparing the approaches in football and basketball
- An overview of FIFA’s new data protection regulations
- Tackling bridge transfers in football: An important ruling from the Royal Spanish Football Federation
- Sega’s early win against Man Utd in Football Manager trade mark case
- Cash is king: Covid-19 leaves sports clubs scrutinising their business in pursuit of cash flow
- Belgian Football Association's new national clearing house and intermediaries’ regulations
- Fighting relegation in Scottish football - to arbitration we must go! (Hearts & Partick Thistle v SPFL)
- Political protest in football – is it time for a (legal) debate? Analysing FIFA’s regulations and recent actions in the Bundesliga
- Safeguarding children from racism and creating an anti-racist culture in sports organisations
- Athlete activism demands systemic change - not just words and applause
- Football in Portugal: a player’s right to terminate their sporting link to a club without proving just cause
- The power to end the football season: lessons from the decision in South Shields FC v The FA
- FIFA Guardians and why international federations should play a greater role in safeguarding sport
- Covid-19: the challenges and opportunities facing Spain’s sports industry
- A guide to Financial Fair Play and the ability of European football clubs to raise finance (Part 2)
- A guide to Financial Fair Play and the ability of European football clubs to raise finance (Part 1)
- A guide to FIFA’s COVID-19 guidelines and their effects on Indian football clubs
- COVID-19: ensuring participant & spectator safety as sports activities resume (UK guidance & legal duties)
- Why Nigeria’s new crowdfunding rules may prove an attractive option for sports teams
- Faces in the crowd: legal considerations for use of facial recognition technology at sports arenas
- State aid in Spanish football - EU General Court annuls European Commission decision on Valencia CF & Elche CF
- A review of DSN v Blackpool FC and its implications for sexual abuse claims in English football
- COVID-19: a legal perspective on FIFA’s guiding principles for national football associations
- COVID-19: practical guidance for those affected by cancelled sports events in Germany
- The 2020 changes to FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players
- Stop Stand Still – why regulating football agents is more than just a cap on fees
- COVID-19: sport and the law of frustration and force majeure
- How to choose, protect and enforce trade marks as a professional athlete: the view from Germany
- Hedging your bets: how to regulate Brazil’s multi-billion-dollar sports betting market
- Rethinking agents’ regulations: why clubs & players should take more responsibility
- Freedom! Should Scotland revoke the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ limiting the eligibility of Home Nation footballers? (Part 1)
- Freedom! Should Scotland revoke the ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ limiting the eligibility of Home Nation footballers? (Part 2)
- Manchester City's Financial Fair Play ban: the legal questions and consequences
- The commercialisation of TV rights in Spain: a key decision from the Spanish Supreme Court (LaLiga v Mediaset)
- Riza v Turkey: European Court of Human Rights gives further guidance on establishing independent arbitral tribunals
- Broadcasting 'Listed' sports events in the UK: what changes on the horizon?
- The problems facing footballers & coaches when signing with Asian clubs (and how FIFA is trying to help)
IMAGE RIGHTS
Moving players: Immigration & tax update from Football Law 2020 conference
Watch presentation
Stephen O'Flaherty and Pete Hackleton
Taxation of image rights agreements – vital lessons for football clubs and players from the Hull City Tigers v HMRC decision
Read article
By Akash Nawbatt QC and Sebastian Purnell
Managing athletes image rights in Italy: Key considerations for structuring and accounting under the new tax regime
Read article
By Elio Andrea Palmitessa
Image rights and international footballers: the curious case of Mohamed Salah and the Egypt Football Association.
Read article.
By Jake Cohen
How are they are structured, and why they are so important for high-profile footballers?
Read article.
By Pete Hackleton
Why Spain’s approach to taxing image rights and agency income is discouraging overseas footballers
Read article
By Carlos Carnero and Eduardo Montejo
Case review: US Soccer Federation v National Players Association (use of player likenesses)
Read article
By Jake Cohen and Carol Couse
PLAYER CONTRACTS
The football transfer that wasn’t to be – the unfortunate case of Mauricio Pinilla and the importance of having sports-specific legal solutions.
Read article.
By Pablo Mettroz Holley
Unlucky Article 13 – the difficulties facing junior UAE footballers when signing their first professional contract.
Read article
By Daniel Magdi Louis, Adam Powell
Unilateral extension options in football contracts: Are they valid and enforceable?
Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena.
Tapping-up in football: Complying with domestic and international transfers rules.
Read article
By Sean O'Toole
When does a buy-out clause trigger a “transfer” under FIFA Regulations?
Read article
By Alfonso León Lleó
What are the obligations on footballers to conduct media activities? Comparing the rules in UK, USA, Spain, Belgium & Italy.
Read article
By Alistair McHenry, Michael Rueda, Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla, Gauthier Bouchat, Stella Riberti, Tommaso Soragni
FIFA’s proposed solidarity mechanism reforms – an effective solution or a lost opportunity?
Read article.
By Toni Roca.
The transfer of minors and the need for legal certainty - Analysis of the Barcelona, Real Madrid & Atletico Madrid CAS awards.
Read article.
By Enric Ripoll González.
International transfer of minors in football - key takeaways and procedural issues from Chelsea & The FA v. FIFA.
Read article.
By Despina Mavromati, Jake Cohen
A case for ending football’s mid-season transfer window.
Read article.
By Rustam Sethna.
FIFA’s April 2018 amendments to its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP).
Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena.
Key resources to better understand transfer costs in football.
Read article.
By Jake Cohen
Key resources to better understand the football transfer system.
Read article
By Jake Cohen
Young and in demand: The legality of buy-out clauses in Spanish football contracts.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
Who has jurisdiction over international football transfer disputes?
Read article.
By John Mehrzad
Player contracts: How contractual stability can override a liquidated damages clause.
Read article.
By Dr. Lucien W. Valloni Stéphanie Oneyser
A review of the updates to FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
Read article.
By Andrew Smith
The challenges of enforcing FIFA's rules on overdue payables: The Iranian cases of Esteghlal FC & Traktor Sazi FC.
Read article.
By Amir Arsalan Eskandari
Can football players unilaterally retire from international duty? The Joël Matip & Allan Nyom cases.
Read article.
By Andrew Smith
Initial thoughts on Real Madrid’s transfer ban being partially upheld by CAS.
Read article.
By John Shea
Resolving failed last minute football transfer deals: lessons from the De Gea case.
Read article.
By Luca Ferrari
The business of transferring minors in football - can more be done to protect young footballers?
Read article.
By Matt Rogers
What are the key legal issues that lawyers and agents encounter during the transfer window and how are they dealt with?
Read article.
By Jake Cohen
Analysis of the legal arguments in FIFPro’s challenge to FIFA's football transfer system.
Read article.
By Angelique Bret
How Spain’s "Real Decreto" impacts football player transfers and solidarity contributions under FIFA Regulations.
Read article.
By Alfonso León Lleó
What are the different bonus structures seen in player contracts and what is the future of performance based pay in football?
Read article.
By Richard Berry
What are pre-contracts and are they enforceable?
Read article.
By Matthew Chandler
Six key points for footballers to consider when signing their first professional contract.
Read article.
By Thomas Barnard
What are the issues and legal remedies involved when clubs fail to pay player wages?
Read article.
By John Shea
Are England’s current Home Grown Player requirements sufficient to produce an elite national team?
Read article.
By Phil Bonner
The FA’s new work permit system & proposal for new “home grown” rules.
Read article.
By Carol Couse
The legality of fixed-term employment contracts in European professional football – The Müller case and beyond.
Read article.
By Sven Demeulemeester and Alexander Vantyghem
A brief review of China’s new 100% ‘transfer tax’ on footballers.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
The current legal status of image rights companies in football
Read article.
By Pete Hackleton
Top of the league: How football clubs protect and exploit their brands in a global marketplace.
Read article.
By Rebecca O'Kelly-Gillard & Chris Lavey
The importance of trade marks in football – controlling brand value & avoiding own goals
Read article.
By Sean Corbett
Registering an EU trade mark in bad faith: lessons from the “NEYMAR” decision.
Read article.
By Gavin Stenton, Jaya Bajaj
The dangers of copyright disputes arising from the use of football club badges.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
In light of Luis Suarez’s successful CAS appeal, what constitutes a restraint of trade in player and manager contracts?
Read article.
By John Mehrzad
How the ban on emergency loans in English football will affect clubs and players
Read article.
By John Shea
How is social media is sport professionalising its “Twitterati”? Morality clauses, regulation and enforcement.
Read article.
By Patricia Leonard
Termination of football employment contracts without just cause: A review of Hakan Çalhanoglu v Trabzonspor FC.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
Tips for football clubs on navigating complex employment negotiations.
Read article.
By Nick Hawkins, Naomi Latham
What has the Adrian Mutu case taught us about new clubs liability for compensation under the FIFA regulations for terminating without just cause?
Read article
By John Shea
What are the additional costs and taxes involved in when buying a player from Argentina?
Read article.
By Ariel Reck
Delayed Entry: the FA’s “highest calibre” standard for non-EU footballers
Read article.
By Jake Cohen
How clubs are hedging against the cost of involved in success, such as paying additional bonuses to players and staff?
Read article.
By Sean Cottrell
How does collective bargaining benefit footballers in Holland?
Read article.
By Eva Traag
How was Major League Soccer’s CBA negotiated and what is the impact on salary caps?
Read article.
By Jake Cohen
Why Football Federation Australia’s new salary cap proposals may be unlawful.
Read article.
By Francis Awaritefe
Fiduciary duties, football, and the fundamental importance of the contractual relationship.
Read article.
By Thomas Croxford and Nick De Marco
A guide to fiduciary duties owed by football club directors and remedies for breach of duty.
Read article.
By Nicholas Siddall
Determining the level of compensation for out of contract football players: The PFCC Danny Ings award.
Read article.
By Daniel Lowen
How MLS’ single entity status works and its relationship with antitrust law.
Read article.
By Terry Brennan
When can a club oblige a player to undertake an individual training plan? A review of the Sebino Plaku case.
Read article.
By Marcin Kwiecien
How the collective sale of broadcasting rights works in Turkish football.
Read article.
By Emin Ozkurt
TRAINING COMPENSATION
A legal guide to solidarity payments in football under the FIFA Regulations.
Read article.
By Andrew Smith
A guide to how FIFA’s training compensation and solidarity payment regimes work.
Read article.
By Andrew Smith
A dispute over training compensation in US Soccer: Youth Soccer Clubs v USSF, MLS & MLSPU.
Read article.
By Andrew Visnovsky
What issues arise when a club waives its right to training compensation?
Read article.
By John Shea
Key case law on attempts to circumvent FIFA’s training compensation system.
Read article.
By Markus Manninen
How do disputes over training compensation play out? The case of Panionios v. Paraná.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
AGENTS/INTERMEDIARIES
A guide to The FA’s new Intermediaries Regulations 2019-2020.
Read article.
By Nick De Marco QC
Re-regulating football agents: would FIFA’s proposed commission cap and prohibition on dual representation work in practice?
Read article.
By Serhat Yilmaz
Important changes to The FA’s Regulations on Intermediaries.
Read article.
By Nick De Marco
Key points from The F.A. -v- Massimo Cellino case on unauthorised agents and the disciplinary process.
Read article.
By Nick De Marco
A guide for young footballers on how on to choose an agent.
Read article.
By Daniel Lowen
Italy’s new football intermediaries’ law – a testing regime.
Read article
By Lucio Mazzei
How football Intermediaries are regulated in the Netherlands: The role of ProAgent.
Read article.
By Roberto Carlos Branco Martins
Case note: McGill v. The Sports and Entertainment Media Group and Others.
Read article.
By Sam Stevens
What effects have FIFA’s Intermediaries Regulations had on player representation and commission levels?
Read article.
By Zane Shihab
A quick guide to the statutory and common law duties on sports agents.
Read article.
By Andrew Nixon
A guide to the Portuguese Regulations of Intermediaries.
Read article.
By Hugo Vaz Serra
What do the new FA Intermediaries Regulations say?
Read article.
By Daniel Lowen
Will the new regulations create a “wild west” or usher in a “brave new world”?
Read article.
By John Mehrzad
Top 10 tips to understand the Football Association’s new Intermediary Regulations.
Read article.
By Daniel Geey
The new FA Intermediaries Regulations & disputes likely to arise
Read article.
By Nick DeMarco
THIRD PARTY OWNERSHIP
A review of FIFA’s TPO ban and alternative financing models for clubs.
Read article.
By Luis Villas-Boas Pires
What are the early effects of the TPO ban in Brazil?
Read article.
By Marian Rosignoli
Third party ownership of players in Argentina.
Read article.
By Daniel Geey
What were the pros and cons of third party ownership?
Read article.
By Luis Villas-Boas Pires
What has the Marcos Rojo case taught us about third party investment in footballers?
Read article.
By Luis Villas-Boas Pires
MANAGERIAL CONTRACTS
Will The FA score with its adoption of the Rooney Rule?
Read article.
By Nick Tsatsas
Should managers be required by regulation to pick full-strength sides?
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
Football manager contracts of employment – key clauses for clubs to consider – Part 1.
Read article.
By Nick Tsatsas
Football manager contracts of employment – key clauses for clubs to consider – Part 2.
Read article.
By Nick Tsatsas
How can clubs introduce financial certainty to the process of firing managers?
Read article.
By Julian Springer
Could the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” be included as part of the managerial hiring process in English football to enhance diversity?
Read article.
By Elaine Banton
PLAYER WELFARE
SAFEGUARDING
No hands…and no heads: An argument to end heading in soccer at all levels.
Read article.
By Jeremi Duru
A review of the current inquiries & investigations into abuse in UK football.
Read article.
By Chris Hurlston & Neerali Madhvani
The legal remedies for victims of child abuse in English football.
Read article.
By Patrick Sadd
Top 10 tips for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in sports.
Read article.
By Alice Cave
Best practice for handling child abuse investigations in sport.
Read article.
By Richard Spafford, Carolyn Pepper, Casey Ryan
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The financial life cycle of a professional footballer - The early years.
Read article.
By Sam Sloma, Anna Moore and Robin Charrot
The financial life cycle of a professional footballer - Planning for retirement.
Read article.
By Sam Sloma, Anna Moore and Robin Charrot
FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY (FFP) AND BROADCASTING
UEFA and Financial Fair Play: A review of the AC Milan decision and 2018 changes to the regulations.
Read article.
By Laura McCallum, Philippa Lombardi
What is the "black-out" rule in football and is it lawful?
Read article.
By Alex Haffner, Thomas Edwards
Financial Fair Play: How clubs justify spending & related party transactions.
Read article.
By Joseph Richmond
An update on Financial Fair Play - Case study: the Neymar Transfer.
Read article.
By Michael Savva
Copyright protections prevent publicans using foreign decoders to show Premier League matches: Luxton case review.
Read article.
By Alex Haffner
What Ofcom’s settlement with the Premier League means for the sale of UK football broadcasting rights.
Read article.
By Alex Haffner
How the Premier League is conquering global markets.
Read article.
By Austin Houlihan
Why are Premier League clubs attracting savvy global investors?
Read article.
By Paul Rawnsley
Why the Premier League's TV rights deal reduces the risk of disruption to the existing rights model.
Read article.
By Austin Houlihan
What is the state of play regarding the Premier League’s broadcasting revenues; and how could increasing revenues could affect clubs’ compliance with Financial Fair Play regulations?
Read article.
By Paul Shapiro
KPMG Analysis of football clubs and the Stock Exchange in 2016.
Read article.
By Andrea Sartori
How is the UEFA Champions League money is distributed to clubs?
Read article.
By Daniel Geey
How the Bundesliga’s new “no single buyer” rule has increased the broadcasting revenue for German football.
Read article.
By Christian Keidel
UEFA Financial Fair Play: an overview of the clubs’ settlements.
Read article.
By Daniel Geey
How financial regulation affects competition across Europe’s big five football leagues.
Read article.
By Natalie St Cyr Clarke
Find out why the Middle East is of growing importance to the global football market.
Read article.
By Alex Thorpe
State aid in European football: A review of the EC’s ruling on Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Valencia CF.
Read article.
By Benoît Keane
COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS
Football kit supplier deals – lessons for clubs on “matching rights” from the Sports Direct v Rangers FC case.
Read article.
By Andrew Reid
Key commercial issues when negotiating a new official kit supplier agreement.
Read article.
By Joe Tompkins
Negotiating new kit sponsorship deals: Nike & Chelsea “Just Do It”.
Read article.
By Charles Maurice
FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE AND OWNERSHIP
An overview of the new FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena, Rustam Sethna
Blackpool FC’s appointment of a receiver: the background, regulatory framework and what comes next for club & fans.
Read article.
By Matthew Astley, James Robbins
Changing the game: Dissecting the landmark reforms endorsed by the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee.
Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena
An overview of the regulations on pitch invasions in Spanish football.
Read article.
By Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla
Can football players delegate their anti-doping responsibilities to their club? The case of Shir Tzedek.
Read article.
By Boaz Sity
Gender equality in football - how much does FIFA “value” the women’s game?
Read article.
By Angela Collins
A review of FIFA’s Code of Ethics 2018.
Read article.
By Lydia Banerjee
A guide to the Owners' and Directors' Test in English football.
Read article.
By Richard Barham
FIFA’s evolving stance on commemorative symbols: The poppy appeal case.
Read article.
By Neeraj Thomas
The FA’s strict stance on political messages: A review of Pep Guardiola’s yellow ribbon case.
Read article.
By John Shea
FIFA’s normalisation committees – what are they and how do they work?
Read article.
By Hannah Kent
How is the Premier League Rulebook drafted? An Interview with Jane Purdon, former Director of Governance of the Premier League.
Read article.
By Sean Cottrell
The use of betting evidence to combat match-fixing: A review of the Joseph Lamptey decision.
Read article.
By Adam Brickell
The global development of women’s football – a review of the strategies being implemented by FIFA, UEFA and in Italy.
Read article.
By Lucio Mazzei
The rise of women’s football in Mexico – The creation of LIGA MX Femenil.
Read article.
By Jonathan Rangel
Qatar 2022 World Cup - laws, changes and legacy benefits.
By Roberto Lusardi
The challenges of privatising Saudi Arabia’s football clubs - An update in 2018.
Read article
By Steve Bainbridge, Andrew Moroney
An interview with Ornella Desirée Bellia, Head of Legal Affairs at EPFL.Click here to listen
Football's greatest threat: Why technology & stakeholder collaboration are key to combating global match-fixing.
Read article.
By Henry Goldschmidt
Corporate criminal liability: How the Criminal Finances Act 2017 presents a fresh challenge for English football clubs.
Read article.
By Simon Pentol
Sexism in football & the independence of disciplinary panels: Issues from the David Moyes case.
Read article.
By Graham Gilbert
How a change in approach could help tackle racism in football – The Jonjo Shelvey case.
Read article.
By Lydia Banerjee
Bribery in football and corruption at the IAAF – How does the Bribery Act 2010 apply?
Read article.
By Neil Swift, Gareth Farrelly, Craig Hogg
An overview of “PROFUT” – Brazil’s new sports law.
Read article.
By Roberto de Palma Barracco
An overview of the restructure of Argentine football following years of uncertainty.
Read article.
By Ariel Reck
“Football for Sale” - What is the problem, and what are the solutions?
Read article.
By Nick De Marco
Clarifying The FA’s prohibition on betting activities: an analysis of the 3 decision.
Read article.
By Alice McDonald
The legal status of fantasy football in Great Britain.
Read article.
By Beth French
Football’s zero tolerance rule on betting bites once again - Wayne Shaw pie eating case.
Read article.
By Phil Bonner
Betting in football – Was The FA’s decision on Joey Barton a fair one?
Read article.
By Philip Hutchinson and Tiran Gunawardena
Betting and football’s ticking time bomb: Joey Barton v The FA.
Read article.
By Nick De Marco
Common ownership of sports teams: Gloucester RFC case confirms the principles from "ENIC" decision.
Read article.
By Phil Bonner
A legal analysis of FIFA’s governance reforms: do they meet the standards of best global practice?
Read article.
By Chris Baird
An overview of key case law relating to negligent liability for sports injuries (Part 1).
Read article.
By Laura McCallum
Football club ownership in Germany – less romantic than you might think.
Read article.
By Christian Keideln and Alexander Engelhard
A guide to the legal due diligence process when buying a football club.
Read article.
By Richard Barham
An overview of how the match-day policing works in English football.
Read article.
By Chris Davies
How crowd disorder will be governed and policed at Euro 2016.
Read article.
By Grahame Anderson and Chimi Shakohoxha
How do we address inconsistent pitch invasion sanctions? The FA v. Reading FC.
Read article.
By Nick de Marco
How homophobic football chants are addressed under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Read article.
By Elaine Banton
Gutierrez v Newcastle Utd disability discrimination case: the wider implications for sport.
Read article.
By Carol Couse
Stand up for seating: why all-seated football stadia should be reconsidered.
Read article.
By Marcus Keppel-Palmer
How football clubs must change to meet the needs of disabled fans.
Read article.
By Libby Payne and Andy Carruthers
How does FIFA monitor and govern the international transfer of professional players on loan?
Read article.
By Barry Lysaght
How FIFA TMS's Global Player Exchange is changing how football clubs conduct international transfers.
Read article.
By Dr. Jasser Kassab
How FIFA TMS investigations increase transparency and accountability in international football transfers.
Read article
By Kimberly Morris
A guide to FIFA’S Transfer Matching System.
Read article.
By Adam Thatcher
The FA v Jake Livermore – Proportionality trumps mandatory doping sanction in exceptional circumstances.
Read article.
By Tom Mountford
An analysis of how English football can reinforce the criteria of who is a “fit and proper person” to run or own a club.
Read article.
By AnneMaree McDonough
How to measure the performance of football clubs’ youth development academies.
Read article.
By Richard Battle
How the Premier League gives back to the community.
Read article.
By Timothy Bridge
The growth of football in China: internal reform and overseas ambition.
Read article.
By Richard Barham
Copa America Centenario – The challenges of organising a new inter-continental football tournament.
Read article.
By Ricardo de Buen Rodríguez
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A cautionary tale for arbitrators in sports law disputes – lessons from Fleetwood Wanderers v AFC Fylde.
Read article.
By Celia Rooney
The validity of FIFA’s arbitration clause and the independence of the CAS: A detailed review of the RFC Seraing cases.
Read article.
By Despina Mavromati
A review of the CAS Panel’s decision in AC Milan v. UEFA - The devil is in the (procedural) detail.
Read article.
By Despina Mavromati
The role of the UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector in disciplinary proceedings.
Read article.
By Miguel Liétard Fernández-Palacios
Can suspicious betting alerts prove match fixing? The case of KS Skënderbeu v UEFA.
Read article.
By Jamie Singer & Ross Brown
How CAS deals with excessive contractual penalties in football.
Read article.
By Despina Mavromati
How does the FIFA Appeal Committee work?
Read article.
By Ariel Reck
What are the key cases that we’ve seen from early 2015?
Read article.
By Nick De Marco
How is the CAS used to help resolve disputes? An interview with leading football lawyer, Juan de Dios Crespo.
Read article.
By Sean Cottrell
Lessons from Suarez case: is it time for “universality” in football sanctions?
Read article.
By Kevin Carpenter
Freezing monies owed from UEFA to secure a debt claim: a case study.
Read article.
By Roy Levy
When is there a right to replay a football match? FIFA, UEFA and The FA laws on fielding an ineligible player.
Read article.
By Grahame Anderson
Regulating unruly football fans: the state of English law and proposed improvements.
Read article.
By Grahame Anderson
What constitutes an ‘Official Match’ under the FIFA Regulations? The case of Ben Arfa.
Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas
Dr. Eva Carneiro's claims against Chelsea and Jose Mourinho: breaking down the legal issues.
Read article.
By James Williams and Nicola Holdsworth
PODCASTS
Interview with Nick De Marco QC - "Mr Football" - Episode 75.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell
Examining the new agreement between Football DataCo, Genius Sports and Perform Group.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell
Interview with Takuya Yamazaki - the challenges for football players rights in Asia.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell
An interview with Christian Keidel.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell
Sports data, betting, governance & the law: Interview with Steven Burton, Genius Sports.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell
How does the transfer market influence the integrity of football?
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, Nick De Marco, Barrister, Blackstone Chambers, Nick Tsatsas, partner and Head of the Employment team, Fladgate LLP, and Richard Berry
Interview with Dimitrios Efstathiou, Vice President, Legal at Major League Soccer.
Click here to listen.
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Jake Cohen
Moving from exclusive to inclusive models of sport - Takuya Yamazaki - E93
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Takuya Yamazaki
Brent Nowicki, Head Of The CAS Anti-Doping Division - E92
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Brent Nowicki
Dr J Simon Rofe - How Sports Diplomacy Can Help The Sport Sector Respond To COVID19 Crisis - E91
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Dr J Simon Rofe
Gareth Farrelly - Lawyer, Arbitrator and Former Pro Football Player Episode 88
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Gareth Farrelly
Achta Mahamat Saleh, Director Of Legal Affairs & Compliance, CAF - E105
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Achta Mahamat Saleh
Expensive Mistakes: Why European Sports Need To Be On Top Of State Aid Law - Clayton & Segura – E104
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, Marianne Clayton and Maria Segura
Aahna Mehrotra, Founder & Principal Lawyer at AM Sports Law & Management Co - E103
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Aahna Mehrotra
Sports: Law & Practice - Q&A With Adam Lewis QC & Jonathan Taylor QC, Also Featuring A Conversation With Lord Sebastian Coe
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, Adam Lewis QC, Jonathan Taylor QC and Lord Sebastian Coe
Álvaro Gómez De La Vega Jiménez, Sports Legal Manager At RCD Espanyol De Barcelona S.A.D - E102
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Álvaro Gómez De La Vega Jiménez
10 Years Of LawInSport - Sean Cottrell - E100
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Gabriella Lowe, Administration Assistant, LawInSport
The Transfer Of Overseas Players Post Brexit With Stephen O'Flaherty - E99
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Stephen O’Flaherty
Sarah Solémalé, Senior Governance Services Manager At FIFA
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Sarah Solémalé
How To Become A Sports Lawyer With LawInSport, Founder, Sean Cottrell E97
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, and Gabriella Lowe, Administration Assistant, LawInSport
The Premier League COVID-19 Testing - Legal & Logistical With Prenetics – E96
By Sean Cottrell, CEO, LawInSport, Andrew Steele and Stephen Taylor Heath
Football Law Digital Conference 2021