Volume: 5 Issue: 9
(September 2007)

News

News organisation Reuters has suspended coverage of the Rugby World Cup 2007 due to media restrictions imposed by the International Rugby Board (IRB), after issues over use of photographs online and audiovisual content failed to be resolved before the tournament's 7 September kick-off. / read more

Sports lawyers from Latin America, Africa and Asia will debate third party ownership of players at 'The Global Game: Ownership of Football Clubs & Players', a World Sports Law Report event sponsored by sports law specialist Clintons, on 25 September at the Selfridge Hotel, London. / read more

The national body for the UK's professional player associations has called for action to raise awareness of two-year jail sentences for players who cheat on sports betting under the newly implemented UK Gambling Act. / read more

Features

The game they supposedly 'play in heaven' appears to be in denial. Recently, the International Rugby Board (IRB) outlined its drug testing policy for the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2007, which did not include blood testing. No reason was offered. But they are not alone on that score. FINA (world swimming body) decided it also would not conduct blood tests at its most recent World Championships in Melbourne earlier this year. / read more

The Football Association's new Football Agents Regulations have faced criticism for perceived lack of consultation with agents, for forcing lawyers to register with The Football Association and have been viewed by some as an attack on the football agent industry itself. David Lampitt, Head of Financial Regulation at The FA, and Jonathan Ellis, Solicitor, Charles Russell LLP, explain how The FA has sought to establish a framework that will improve the credibility of player agents, the consultation process conducted by The FA with the industry as a whole (including agents), and, amongst other things, explain why lawyer registration is essential to tackling bad practice. / read more

In October 2006, Premier Soccer League referee Enoch Radebe became the first South African match official to be charged under section 15 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act. Steve Cornelius, a Professor in Law at the University of Johannesburg, discusses PreCCA's application to corruption in sport, including its possible application in doping cases. / read more

Football is not the only sport where points deductions for rule breaches have played a part in deciding who is relegated. Castleford Tigers, who were relegated at the end of the 2006 season, were considering legal options after the Rugby Football League deducted four points from Wigan Warriors' 2007 total, after Wigan were found to have breached the 2006 salary cap, arguing that Wigan would have been relegated if the deduction had applied in 2006. Julian Diaz-Rainey and John Burns, both Partners in Halliwells LLP's sports group, examine the RFL's salary cap rules and how they have been amended to address issues such as this. / read more

Leeds Metropolitan University has recently taken a controlling stake in Leeds Tykes rugby union club, which was already involved in a joint venture, Leeds Rugby, in partnership with Leeds Rhinos rugby league club. John Nicholson, a Solicitor with the corporate group at Martineau Johnson, explains how this complex arrangement, and other similar agreements, illustrate the importance of legal foresight when entering into partnerships, joint ventures or mergers. / read more

The European Commission has allowed France until the end of September to ensure that its restrictions on the promotion of sports betting services comply with EU law. Mark Miller, a Solicitor and Avocat with Hammonds Hausmann, examines the restrictions, assesses their impact on sport and explains that although France has changed its legal argumentation with regards to sports betting, as well as opening up certain areas of sports betting, it remains determined to defend its state monopoly. / read more

About World Sports Advocate

The monthly law publication providing guidance on all aspects of sports law, including licensing and sports data, anti-doping and doping sanctions, TV and broadcasting rights, sport technology, players agents, disciplinary measures, sports integrity, sports betting, player contracts, intellectual property, transfer regulations, sports sponsorship and marketing, and governance, as well as coverage of key legal cases, sporting regulations and governing bodies including the IOC, UEFA and FIFA and sporting events such as London 2012. / read more