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 100 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:

 

PLAYER CONTRACTS 

Unilateral extension options in football contracts: Are they valid and enforceable? Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena

 

What are the obligations on footballers to conduct media activities? A comparison of the rules in UK, USA, Spain and Belgium. Read article.
By Alistair McHenry, Gauthier Bouchat, Michael Rueda , Josep F. Vandellos Alamilla

 

When does a buy-out clause trigger a “transfer” under FIFA Regulations? Read article. 
By Alfonso León Lleó

Tapping-up in football: Complying with domestic and international transfers rules. Read article. 
By Sean O'Toole

FIFA’s April 2018 amendments to its Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena

Young and in demand: The legality of buy-out clauses in Spanish football contracts. Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas

 

Key resources to better understand the football transfer system Read article. 
By Jake Cohen 

 

Key resources to better understand transfer costs in football. Read article. 
By Jake Cohen

 

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

 

How are they are structured, and why they are so important for high-profile footballers? Read article.
By Pete Hackleton

 

A brief review of China’s new 100% ‘transfer tax’ on footballers. Read article.
By Lloyd Thomas

 

Case review: US Soccer Federation v National Players Association (use of player likenesses) Read article. 
By Jake Cohen and Carol Couse

 

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

 

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

 

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

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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

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AGENTS/INTERMEDIARIES

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

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

 

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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

 

 

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PLAYER WELFARE

SAFEGUARDING

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

 

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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

 

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

 

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COMMERCIAL AGREEMENTS 

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

 

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FOOTBALL GOVERNANCE AND OWNERSHIP

Changing the game: Dissecting the landmark reforms endorsed by the FIFA Football Stakeholders Committee. Read article.
By Tiran Gunawardena

 

Can football players delegate their anti-doping responsibilities to their club? The case of Shir Tzedek. Read article.
By Boaz Sity

 

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

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 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. Read article.
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.
By Ornella Desirée Bellia



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

 

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DISPUTE RESOLUTION

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

 

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

 

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PODCASTS

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