A note of caution for sports agents, introducers and intermediaries: beware the implied “effective cause” term – 2 Hare Court

Posted November 17th, 2020 in agency, contracts, interpretation, news, sport by sally

‘The recent decision of the High Court in Winlink Marketing Limited v Liverpool Football Club [2020] EWHC 2271 may have long lasting consequences for agents and intermediaries in facilitating and introducing parties to high-value sponsorship deals.’

Full Story

2 Hare Court, 2nd November 2020

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Fans to see agent fees from every transfer under new Fifa laws – The Independent

Posted November 6th, 2020 in conflict of interest, fees, news, sport by sally

‘Football fans will be able to see exactly how much agents earn from transfer deals when new regulations come into force next year, Fifa has said.’

Full Story

The Independent, 6th November 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mamadou Sakho: Defender accepts ‘substantial’ damages from Wada – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2020 in damages, defamation, disciplinary procedures, news, sport by sally

‘Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has accepted “substantial” damages from the World Anti-Doping Agency over allegations he took banned performance-enhancing drugs.’

Full Story

BBC News, 4th November 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Court of Appeal affirms importance of data in horseracing case – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 4th, 2020 in appeals, data protection, news, sport, third parties, unlawful means conspiracy by sally

‘The Court of Appeal in London has strengthened the tools available to rights holders when seeking to control and exploit commercially valuable data within sport and set out the pitfalls for third parties who seek to do the same without clear, unambiguous approval from a rights holder.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 3rd November 2020

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Inquest rules heading heavy leather balls ‘a factor’ in death of Alan Jarvis – The Guardian

Posted October 16th, 2020 in employment, industrial injuries, inquests, news, psychiatric damage, sport by sally

‘A former Wales international footballer who developed dementia had died after heading heavy leather balls during his career, an inquest heard on Thursday.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 15th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Hillsborough trial of three men delayed again – BBC News

‘The trial of two former police officers and a police solicitor accused of altering police statements after the Hillsborough disaster has been delayed.’

Full Story

BBC News, 8th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Barry Bennell sentenced to fifth jail term for sexual offences against boys – The Guardian

‘Former football coach and serial paedophile Barry Bennell has been jailed for an additional four years as he was sentenced over sexual abuse for a fifth and most likely final time.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 8th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Four convicted after investigation into homophobic behaviour at West Ham vs Brighton game – The Independent

‘West Ham said they have a “zero-tolerance approach” to any kind of discrimination after four men were convicted of public order offences following an investigation into homophobic behaviour at a Premier League game.’

Full Story

The Independent, 4th October 2020

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Hate crimes recorded at one in 10 football games in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted September 25th, 2020 in government departments, hate crime, news, racism, sport, statistics by sally

‘One in 10 football fixtures in the 2019-20 season had an incident of hate crime in England and Wales, data gathered by the police, the FA and anti-discrimination campaigners has revealed.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 24th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Worker Status Sent Spinning: Case summary of Varnish v British Cycling – 3PB

‘Ms Varnish (the Claimant) is a talented cyclist. She holds world records for track cycling and has won medals at the European Championships, World Cup and Commonwealth Games. She entered into an “Athlete Agreements” with British Cycling (the Respondent). This agreement expressly stated that it was not a contract of employment, that the Respondent would develop an Individual Rider Plan and provide the Claimant with support required, and that the Claimant would, among other things, train to the best of her abilities. The agreement provided for suspension and termination by the Respondent in certain circumstances.’

Full Story

3PB, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

What is a ‘Fit and Proper Person’? – 25 Bedford Row

Posted August 10th, 2020 in chambers articles, company directors, news, sport by sally

‘In this article, Simon Pentol QC examines the flaws in the process that scrutinises the suitability of football club owners and proposes a 10-point plan of revisions.’

Full Story

25 Bedford Row, 6th August 2020

Source: www.25bedfordrow.com

Barry Bennell: Ex-football coach admits more sexual offences – BBC News

Posted August 3rd, 2020 in abuse of position of trust, child abuse, children, news, sexual offences, sport by sally

‘Former football coach and serial paedophile Barry Bennell has pleaded guilty to nine sexual offences.’

Full Story

BBC News, 31st July 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Equal Pay, Parental Rights, Personal Beliefs and Protest Movements – a review of recent developments in the areas of sport and employment law – Littleton Chambers

‘Across the board people have been reassessing how the traditional views of what it means to be an “employee” fit within our modern world.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 21st July 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

Covid 19: The impact of the crisis on competition law and tax issues in sport – Blackstone Chambers

Posted July 13th, 2020 in chambers articles, competition, coronavirus, news, sport, taxation by sally

‘The Covid 19 epidemic and consequential lockdown measures have had a disastrous impact on the seasons of winter and summer sports alike. To take but one example, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has said that it envisages a loss of revenue of £200 million, prompting it to seek funds from the Covid Corporate Financing Facility. The combined impact on Premier League revenues as a whole is predicted in the Deloitte Annual Report for 2019-2020 to be around £1 billion. This article considers the potential impact of the Covid crisis on competition law and tax issues for sports clubs and regulatory bodies. It reflects some thoughts I gave for a Blackstone Chambers Sports Webinar on 25 June 2020.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

Covid 19: The impact of the crisis on competition law and tax issues in sport – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted July 2nd, 2020 in competition, coronavirus, news, sport, taxation by sally

‘Covid 19: The impact of the crisis on competition law and tax issues in sport.’

Full Story

Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 2nd July 2020

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

New Acts – legislation.gov.uk

Posted June 30th, 2020 in divorce, insolvency, legislation, sport by sally

Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020

Birmingham Commonwealth Games Act 2020

Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020

Source: www.legislation.gov.uk

Football in the time of COVID-19: lessons to be learned from the recent decision in South Shields FC v The FA – Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted June 17th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, sport by sally

‘A distinguished arbitral panel, chaired by Lord Dyson with Charles Flint QC and Andrew Green QC, recently delivered its award in the case of South Shields Football Club 1888 Limited v The Football Association Limited. The decision, which considered The FA’s powers to bring the 2019/20 football season to an end for Steps 3 to 7 of the NLS, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, is one of the first to examine the scope of regulatory decision-making in the field of sport in the wake of the current global health crisis. Nick De Marco QC discusses the case.’

Full Story

Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 12th June 2020

Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org

South Shields Football Club 1888 Limited v The Football Association Limited – Blackstone Chambers

‘A legal challenge to The FA’s decision to end the 2019/20 football season in Steps 3-7 of the English football National League System without promotion or relegation on account of the COVID-19 pandemic has been dismissed. The arbitral panel, chaired by Lord Dyson with Charles Flint QC and Andrew Green QC, rejected the challenge brought by South Shields FC, a club sitting in an automatic promotion position at the point of cessation of the season.’

Full Story

Blackstone Chambers, 11th June 2020

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Insolvency in the English Football League: impact on players and staff – Littleton Chambers

Posted June 11th, 2020 in contract of employment, coronavirus, debts, insolvency, news, remuneration, sport by sally

‘In relation to the EFL, there have been dire warnings that in the absence of a substantially increased contribution from the Premier League, up to 60 clubs could go out of business.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 2nd June 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com

The Return of English Football: Project Restart and the Duty of Utmost Good Faith – Littleton Chambers

Posted June 10th, 2020 in chambers articles, coronavirus, news, sport by sally

‘Ashley Cukier and Anirudh Mathur explore the duty of “utmost good faith” in the context of the PL and EFL Rules.’

Full Story

Littleton Chambers, 4th June 2020

Source: littletonchambers.com