4 5 May 2006

News:

An independent review into the current state of European football has concluded that urgent action by football authorities and governments is required to safeguard the interest of the sport.

FIFA confirmed that ticket holders for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany will be able to transfer tickets to family members and friends through official channels, however its procedure leaves the door open to touts.

Premier Rugby, which represents the 12 clubs competing in the Guinness Premiership, is to meet with England's Rugby Football Union (RFU), after failing to agree a solution to the problem of player release for international games at a 31 May meeting.

Features:

The Italian Football Federation, clubs, players, referees, linesmen, player agents, police officers and others have been implicated in corruption allegations, which have caused senior figures to resign from their positions. Luca Ferrari and Matteo Castioni, of Studio Associato LCA, explain how public prosecutor investigations are progressing, the impact they could have on the domestic game and on the national team competing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

The recent case of Mullins v McFarlane illustrates the scope and nature of the jurisdiction of courts to intervene in disputes relating to the decisions of sports tribunals. Peter Limbert of Hammonds examines the issues.

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, 'hooligans' will find it harder than ever before to live up to their name due to new measures introduced. Max Duthie, Partner, and Mike Morgan, Trainee Solicitor at Hammonds examine the effect that those measures will have.

In a significant decision, the German Federal Court of Justice recently ruled that FIFA and its licensed national partners are not entitled to exclusive use of the 'Fußball WM 2006' trademark. Dr. Wulf Hambach and Andreas Gericke of Hambach & Hambach, examine the judgment and its implications.

The High Court recently decided that Avon insurance need not pay out to Blackburn Rovers for an injury to Martin Dahlin, as the injury was the result of a 'pre-existing' degenerative condition. Matthew Barnes, a Solicitor at Hammonds, argues that the fact the case got so far illustrates how careful all parties need to be in drawing up sporting insurance policies.

A WIPO panel has recently ruled in favour of England footballer, Michael Owen, over the use of domain names, despite no evidence that the respondent had acted in bad faith by engaging in a pattern of cybersquatting. Max Duthie, a solicitor at Hammonds, examines the judgment.

The amount of tax that athletes will pay when competing in the UK depends on where the athlete is based, what they are competing in and their amateur / professional status. Richard Baldwin, a tax consultant and Individual Member of the CCPR, examines recent developments.