International Sports Law

Lecture presents students with an overview of the foundations of international regulation. The principle of sovereignty of independent countries is being considered, as is the mechanism for entering into legally binding treaties between independent countries. In this general context, attention is drawn to the ability of international sports organisations to develop an autonomous legal system (“lex Sportiva”) in the sports world, in particular through CAS (Court of Sport Arbitration in Lausanne) and federation rules (Olympic Charter, WADA Code, etc.).

Purpose of the lecture: to understand the boundaries and opportunities of Lex Sportiva as a global sports legal system.

In this lecture, students will learn about the application of competition law in sport by analysing how the activities of sports organisations may conflict with the competition rules of the European Union. The relevant judgments and investigations of the EU courts will be dealt with in the context of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. How to balance the specific characteristics of sports organisations with functioning market conditions while respecting the rights of athletes and consumers will be discussed.

Lecture purpose: Develop the ability of students to analyse the regulation of European Union competition law in the context of sport, identify potential infringements of competition law in the activities of sports organisations, as well as understand and assess the means to prevent such infringements.

This lecture is dedicated to the practical application of competition law in real-life situations in sport. Topics that will be addressed include, among other things, mechanisms used by sports governing bodies to control the right to participate in sport and the exercise of their monopoly rights to restrict the commercial activities of sports players.

Lecture purpose: develop students’ ability to recognise sports situations that may prove problematic from the point of view of competition law, as well as possible legal consequences and solutions to such problems.

In this lecture, students will study the application of the fundamental rights of the European Union in professional sport, paying particular attention to the right to free movement. The important Bosman case (1995), which significantly changed the rules on player transfers between EU member states, will be analysed. The lecture will also look at modern challenges, including FIFA’s transfer system and the compatibility of athletes’ employment contracts and restrictions on them with EU law. The discussion will examine recent CJEU judgments and their impact on the legal framework of sport.

Lecture purpose: The purpose of the lecture is to help students understand how EU rights - particularly the principles of free movement - apply in professional sport, set potential limits and analyse how these legal solutions affect athletes’ rights, the functioning of the sports market and the rules of sports organisations.

This lecture is dedicated to protecting the human rights and labour rights of athletes and coaches in professional sport, with a particular focus on the nature of the legal relationship between athletes/coaches and sports clubs. It will examine whether this relationship should be treated as an employment contract or a civil contract and how it affects the legal protection of athletes in a national and EU legal context. Topical issues such as forced transfer rules, contractual restrictions on athletes, unilateral termination of employment contracts and dispute resolution mechanisms will be addressed. Cases such as Messi v FC Barcelona or the impact OF FIFA RSTP rules on transfers and contracts WILL also be analysed.

Purpose of the lecture: to deepen students’ understanding of the legal status of athletes and coaches - as an employee or independent professional, self-employed or individual merchant. Analyse the protection of athletes’ rights and interests in working relationships with sports clubs and develop skills to identify legal risks, analyse contractual relationships and apply relevant international, European and national laws to the resolution of sports disputes.

This lecture is dedicated to protecting the human rights and labour rights of athletes and coaches in professional sport, with a particular focus on the nature of the legal relationship between athletes/coaches and sports clubs. It will examine whether this relationship should be treated as an employment contract or a civil contract and how it affects the legal protection of athletes in a national and EU legal context. Topical issues such as forced transfer rules, contractual restrictions on athletes, unilateral termination of employment contracts and dispute resolution mechanisms will be addressed. Cases such as Messi v FC Barcelona or the impact OF FIFA RSTP rules on transfers and contracts WILL also be analysed.

Purpose of the lecture: to deepen students’ understanding of the legal status of athletes and coaches - as an employee or independent professional, self-employed or individual merchant. Analyse the protection of athletes’ rights and interests in working relationships with sports clubs and develop skills to identify legal risks, analyse contractual relationships and apply relevant international, European and national laws to the resolution of sports disputes.

This lecture gives students practical insight into the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dispute resolution procedure. The stages from the filing of the application for a dispute to the final ruling will be examined in detail, including time limits, the structure of the proceedings, the rights and obligations of the parties, and the requirements for filing documents. The cost of the case, the role of lawyers, pro bono assistance options and appeal options will be analysed.

Lecture purpose: the purpose of the lecture is to provide students with a practical understanding of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) litigation mechanism by developing skills in assessing procedural deadlines, determining litigation costs and understanding of opportunities and different legal strategies in the field of sports law.

This lecture gives students practical insight into the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) dispute resolution procedure. The stages from the filing of the application for a dispute to the final ruling will be examined in detail, including time limits, the structure of the proceedings, the rights and obligations of the parties, and the requirements for filing documents. The cost of the case, the role of lawyers, pro bono assistance options and appeal options will be analysed.

Lecture purpose: the purpose of the lecture is to provide students with a practical understanding of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) litigation mechanism by developing skills in assessing procedural deadlines, determining litigation costs and understanding of opportunities and different legal strategies in the field of sports law.

This lecture analyses the application of the fundamental rights of athletes enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - in particular the right to a fair trial, access to justice, effective participation in a trial, a reasonable time trial, equality of arms, legal certainty and the presumption of innocence - to sporting organisations and disciplinary bodies. The interplay between sports laws and universal human rights will be looked at, with particular focus on issues such as automatic presumption of guilt in anti-doping cases, limited access to independent courts, CAS’s status as a quasi-judicial body and restrictions on appeal options. Recent cases such as Sun Yang v WADA, Ekşioğlu and Mosturoğlu v Turkey, Muta and Pechstein v Switzerland will be heard to identify systemic failings that undermine the fundamental rights of athletes.

Lecture purpose: To develop students’ understanding of the importance of the fundamental rights of athletes in the disciplinary process of sport, the ability to identify violations of the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence, and to analyse and evaluate the possibilities for protecting those rights at national and international level.

This lecture analyses the application of the fundamental rights of athletes enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) - in particular the right to a fair trial, access to justice, effective participation in a trial, a reasonable time trial, equality of arms, legal certainty and the presumption of innocence - to sporting organisations and disciplinary bodies. The interplay between sports laws and universal human rights will be looked at, with particular focus on issues such as automatic presumption of guilt in anti-doping cases, limited access to independent courts, CAS’s status as a quasi-judicial body and restrictions on appeal options. Recent cases such as Sun Yang v WADA, Ekşioğlu and Mosturoğlu v Turkey, Muta and Pechstein v Switzerland will be heard to identify systemic failings that undermine the fundamental rights of athletes.

Lecture purpose: To develop students’ understanding of the importance of the fundamental rights of athletes in the disciplinary process of sport, the ability to identify violations of the right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence, and to analyse and evaluate the possibilities for protecting those rights at national and international level.

: This lecture analyses the manifestations of trafficking and discrimination in sport, with a particular focus on athlete exploitation, cracking schemes, forced transfers, racial, gender, sexual orientation, gender and religious affiliation discrimination. There will be a look at cases where underage non-EU athletes, using sport as “bait,” are recruited for forced labour or left without legal and social protection. The lecture will also analyse national and international laws and regulations, including UN and EU regulation, as well as the responsibility and preventive measures of sports organisations. Recent problems such as the failure to prevent racist incidents in professional football, as well as the debate over the rights of transgender athletes, will also be looked at.

The purpose of the lecture is to develop students’ ability to identify signs of trafficking and discrimination in the sporting environment, to understand the legal and ethical risks involved, and to familiarise themselves with effective strategies to address these violations.

: This lecture analyses the manifestations of trafficking and discrimination in sport, with a particular focus on athlete exploitation, cracking schemes, forced transfers, racial, gender, sexual orientation, gender and religious affiliation discrimination. There will be a look at cases where underage non-EU athletes, using sport as “bait,” are recruited for forced labour or left without legal and social protection. The lecture will also analyse national and international laws and regulations, including UN and EU regulation, as well as the responsibility and preventive measures of sports organisations. Recent problems such as the failure to prevent racist incidents in professional football, as well as the debate over the rights of transgender athletes, will also be looked at.

The purpose of the lecture is to develop students’ ability to identify signs of trafficking and discrimination in the sporting environment, to understand the legal and ethical risks involved, and to familiarise themselves with effective strategies to address these violations.

In this lecture, students will analyse major breaches of sports integrity, their causes and the impact on the sports system. Will be looked at - doping: examples of a state-backed doping system, such as Russia’s state-sponsored doping scandal, match-fixing (match-fixing): examples from different sports analysing organised crime and its impact on the integrity of sport. Corruption at the helm of sport: a study into the FIFA and IIHF scandals that exposes deep systemic problems at the helm of sports organisations. Sport violence: The physical, psychological and sexual forms of violence, their prevalence and impact on athletes’ well-being have been looked at.

Purpose of the lecture: to develop students’ ability to identify and analyse various violations of the integrity of sport, to understand their causes and consequences, and to develop proposals to prevent them.

In this lecture, students will analyse major breaches of sports integrity, their causes and the impact on the sports system. Will be looked at - doping: examples of a state-backed doping system, such as Russia’s state-sponsored doping scandal, match-fixing (match-fixing): examples from different sports analysing organised crime and its impact on the integrity of sport. Corruption at the helm of sport: a study into the FIFA and IIHF scandals that exposes deep systemic problems at the helm of sports organisations. Sport violence: The physical, psychological and sexual forms of violence, their prevalence and impact on athletes’ well-being have been looked at.

Purpose of the lecture: to develop students’ ability to identify and analyse various violations of the integrity of sport, to understand their causes and consequences, and to develop proposals to prevent them.