‘The Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) recently held in Revenue and Customs v Professional Game Match Officials Ltd that part-time football referees are independent contractors (rather than employees, whose match fees and other payments are subject to PAYE).’
Old Square Chambers, 1st June 2020
Source: www.oldsquare.co.uk
‘Professional Game Match Officials Limited (“PGMOL”) is a company whose 3 members are The Football Association Ltd (“the FA”), The Football Association Premier League Ltd (“the Premier League”) and the Football League Ltd (“the Football League”), now referred to as the English Football League (“the EFL”).’
3PB, 2nd June 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘As elite-level leagues, sporting associations and other stakeholders debate whether competitions can be restarted in an era of physical distancing, it has been reported that some professional football and rugby clubs are proposing to require players to sign disclaimers in relation to the health risks posed by Covid-19 before they resume training.’
Littleton Chambers, 14th May 2020
Source: littletonchambers.com
‘In this short piece, Andrew Nixon and Alex Harvey of Sheridans Sports Group, and David Reade QC and Nick Siddall QC of the Littleton Sports Group consider some of the potential claims which may arise from league seasons being cancelled, with a particular focus on the Premier League. The authors also look at how any losses may be assessed.’
Littleton Chambers, 7th May 2020
Source: littletonchambers.com
‘Football insolvencies are different than others. In their community impact, yes, but, to some extent at
least, legally as well. They may also be becoming more common.’
3 Hare Court, 4th May 2020
Source: 3harecourt.com
‘The recent decision of DSN v Blackpool Football Club Limited [2020] EWHC 670 (QB) illustrates the need for litigating parties to consider and engage with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures in trying to resolve their disputes.’
Law Society's Gazette, 4th May 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty across the world of professional football for players, clubs and fans alike. Almost all domestic football leagues have been suspended for the past several weeks (save for holdout Belarus, which has continued to hold professional matches in front of fans). As the lockdowns in European countries have been extended, many have speculated about the possible need to cancel domestic seasons outright. However, a vexed question has remained about the effect any such cancellation might have on one of the most prestigious and lucrative elements of the sport: qualification for European competitions.’
Littleton Chambers, 24th April 2020
Source: littletonchambers.com
‘Bianca Balmelli and Nicholas Siddall QC analyse the legal issues arising from the differing responses of sporting events to the Covid-19 pandemic.’
Littleton Chambers, 7th April 2020
Source: www.littletonchambers.com
‘The football world, like almost every other sector of the economy, is grappling with the unprecedented impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In English football, the official position remains as set out in the joint statement issued by the main professional stakeholders on 20 March 2020: football is currently suspended but ‘all options’ are being explored ‘to find ways of resuming the season when conditions allow’.’
7th April 2020
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
‘Many events, including music, theatre, conferences and exhibitions have been cancelled or postponed in the wake of COVID-19 and more will follow.’
4 New Square, 25th March 2020
Source: www.4newsquare.com
‘Last month European football’s governing body, UEFA, announced that English champions Manchester City had been fined 30 million Euros and banned from the Champions League – the most illustrious competition in European football. The Adjudicatory Chamber of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) handed down a two-year ban on the basis that Man City had breached Financial Fair Play Regulations. The club have responded fiercely, complaining of a ‘prejudicial process’ and alleging that the case was ‘initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA.’ Against this background it is thought likely that City will rely on human rights arguments in their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (a somewhat ironic development in the view of some commentators given previous criticisms of the human rights records of the club’s backers).’
UK Human Rights Blog, 23rd March 2020
Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com
‘The decision of the English Premier League, Football League and the Scottish FA to suspend football matches as a result of corona virus is the latest in a series of unprecedented responses to the global pandemic. Nick De Marco QC discusses the legal issues in sport arising from the worldwide health crisis.’
Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 13th March 2020
Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org
‘A fraudster faked a dead man’s membership card to use as a “passport to a prestigious world” and get the best seats at Lord’s cricket ground.’
BBC News, 11th March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘A football supporter who shouted racial abuse at a player during a game between Crystal Palace and Everton in August 2019 has been convicted of a hate crime.’
Crown Prosecution Service, 4th March 2020
Source: www.cps.gov.uk
‘Aston Villa and Leicester City have paid damages to five victims of a football scout convicted of child sex abuse, the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire programme has learned.’
BBC News, 5th March 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
‘In an important new rating decision the UT has concluded in Wigan Football Club Limited v Wayne Cox (VO) [2019] UKUT 0389 (LC) that the successive relegations of a football club from the Premier League (“PL”) to the Championship and then to League 1 did not constitute a material change of circumstances (“MCC”) providing grounds for a reduction in rateable value (in the 2010 compiled list). The UT confirmed the decision of the VTE, but also made reference to the unfairness of the outcome for financially imperilled clubs and the potential need for adjustments in the method of valuation.’
Francis Taylor Building, 14th February 2020
Source: www.ftbchambers.co.uk
‘In the 1984 film Karate Kid, Mr Miyagi admonished Daniel: “I say; you do. No questions”. However, with VAT, there are always questions.’
3PB, 29th January 2020
Source: www.3pb.co.uk
‘In November 2019, an Independent Panel of Premiership Rugby handed down its eagerly anticipated decision concerning the Club’s alleged breaches of the Premiership Rugby Salary Regulations (the “Regulations”), which impose salary caps on elite rugby clubs.’
Sports Law Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 29th January 2020
Source: www.sportslawbulletin.org
‘Sports Law disputes in 2020 from Littleton Chambers.’
Littleton Chambers, 31st January 2020
Source: www.littletonchambers.com
‘Manchester City have banned one of their own supporters for life after he was found guilty of racially abusing Raheem Sterling.’
The Independent, 11th January 2020
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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