Freedom of Expression: TAS 2024/A/10820 Olympique des Alpes SA et Barthélémy Constantin c. Association Suisse de Football

This case revolved around disciplinary sanctions imposed by the Swiss Football Association (ASF) against Olympique des Alpes SA and its sporting director Barthélémy Constantin, following statements made in a post-match interview. The case raises important issues regarding the scope of disciplinary powers of national associations and the protection of freedom of expression.

From Lausanne to Luxembourg: the CJEU’s Seraing Judgment and the Boundaries of Sports Arbitration Under EU Law

In this expert analysis, Professor Stefano Bastianon dissects the CJEU’s landmark Seraing ruling (Case C-600/23), which reshapes the contours of sports arbitration under EU Law. With particular focus on judicial review and EU public policy, the author explores how the Court balances the autonomy of arbitral mechanisms like CAS with the imperative of effective judicial protection - a judgment that could have far-reaching implications for the future of dispute resolution in sport.

Major Ruling by the CJEU in the Seraing Case: CJEU, 1 August 2025, Case C-600/23, RFC Seraing

In a landmark ruling delivered on 1 August 2025 (enclosed), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) significantly questioned the absolute authority traditionally accorded to arbitral awards rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) when arbitration is unilaterally imposed by international sports federations. The Court underscored that such CAS decisions must be subjected to comprehensive judicial scrutiny by national courts to ensure their compliance with essential principles and provisions of EU Law. This decision carries profound implications for the European sports arbitration framework.

FIFPRO and FIFA Clash Over Player Welfare and Governance

On 25 July 2025, the world association of players’ union - FIFPRO - and the world football governing body - FIFA - reignited a longstanding debate over the concentration of power in football governance and the extent to which players are genuinely represented in matters affecting their health, labor rights and professional autonomy. This longstanding debate has been raging in the legal football ecosystem for the past few years.

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Aug

FIFA Circular no. 1936 and FIFA Regulations on the Organization of Refereeing in FIFA Member Associations (August 2025)

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Class Action Targets FIFA’s Transfer Rules Following CJEU Diarra Ruling

Aug

Latest UEFA CEDB Decisions (31 July 2025)

Aug

FIFA Clearing House Regulations (Ed August 2025)

Latest FL Publication

Football Legal # 22

Special Report: Key Specific Clauses in Player and Coach Contracts with Clubs

**To access Football Legal # 22, our Leader and Premium subscribers may click here**

The edition’s Special Report, “Key Specific Clauses in Player and Coach Contracts with Clubs”, offers a practical and in-depth review of some of the most sensitive and strategically important provisions found in football employment contracts. With the summer transfer window fast approaching in Europe, this Special Report has been designed to help lawyers, clubs, federations and agents better understand, draft and negotiate key clauses regulating the relationship between players, coaches and clubs.

Following the structure introduced in Football Legal # 19 (focused on club-to-club transfer clauses), this new Special Report takes a clause-by-clause approach to core and sometimes controversial topics. The issues examined include, among others, duration and termination clauses, remuneration and net salary guarantees, disciplinary provisions, religious practices, pandemic-related risks, geopolitical instability and waivers of the FIFA RSTP framework.

Far more than a descriptive overview, this Report provides clear practical guidance based on real-life challenges and the collective experience of top legal professionals in the field. It is designed to serve as both a strategic and operational tool for practitioners preparing for contract negotiations or anticipating potential disputes.

This edition also includes our regular features and contributions on football law and governance. The Perspectives section offers concise commentary on current regulatory trends and emerging challenges. In the International News section, special attention is paid to the growing influence of European Union law and its impact on football’s regulatory frameworks, as well as to recent key decisions from the Swiss Federal Tribunal and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which remain central to global sports jurisprudence.

The National News section presents legal updates from 15 countries - from Spain to South Korea, and from England and Sweden to Turkey and Argentina - illustrating how football law continues to evolve and diversify across jurisdictions.

As always, this edition reflects Football Legal’s commitment to providing football law professionals with reliable, high-quality and globally informed legal content.

Leader and Premium subscribers, to order your paper version, click here (free of charge, excluding shipping costs).

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Football Legal # 22