Sports Law & Practice

It is not my intention to spend too much time discussing the individuals involved, in the incident that marked the game between Liverpool and Chelsea on Sunday 21 April 2013. The most important aspect of this discussion relates to the appropriate regulation of 'on the field violence' incidents. Such was the indignation caused with the incident in question, that the old perennial discussion of the differences between self-regulation and state regulation becomes pertinent.

This blog has, extensively, been analysing, over the last few months, all developments in relation to Scottish football. I have written several posts as to the dangers of avoiding an effective change in the structure of all Scottish leagues and, most importantly, I have contacted the Scottish Football Association, with specific proposals regarding such changes. It became evident today that the changes proposed by the football authorities have not satisfied all of their stakeholders. The lack of unanimity in the voting process, demonstrates not only the plethora of different  and uncompromising ideas of all parties involved, but also the different interests that they wish to apply in the game. The lack of consensus now threatens to jeopardise the healthy existence of several clubs and to make the dire financial situation of many others worse.  In conclusion, I have two observations to make. The first one concerns the role of the football authorities in Scotland. The l...

There has been considerable discussion, over the years, as to whether the actions of sports governing bodies could be challenged in a court of law. The discussion created a plethora of arguments and such arguments formed, subsequently, the basis for the development of a more clarified framework regarding the governance and regulation of modern sport. Such framework also confirmed the proposition that, under certain conditions, actions of sports governing bodies [or of their disciplinary bodies] could be challenged under certain causes of action.