4 9 September 2006

News:

Media Sports Investments (MSI), the company that negotiated the transfer of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from Brazilian club Corinthians to English Premier League club West Ham United, has exploited a loophole in FIFA regulations allowing it to profit from any future sale of the Argentinian pair.

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, has warned the Pakistan cricket team and Pakistan Cricket Board of further charges following a 'stream of unnecessary and inappropriate comments' made after recent events at the final Test between England and Pakistan.

Premier Rugby Limited (PRL), which represents the 12 clubs competing in the Guinness Premiership, said they were happy with a 24 August agreement with England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) regarding the release of the Elite Player Squad (EPS) for 16 days of England training during the 06/07 season.

Features:

Ashley Cole's case against the FA Premier League's transfer regulations highlighted that the regulations can place Premier League players at a disadvantage when negotiating a transfer, compared to players from other European Leagues. Alison Green and Graham Shear, partners at Teacher Stern Selby, argue that the case highlights the need for an investigation into whether the Premier League is justified in operating a restraint of trade, to protect the integrity of sport, under EC Law.

Ticket touting continues to be a problem for sports governing bodies and other organisations, particularly through the use of internet auction sites such as eBay. Max Duthie, Steven Whyte and Anna-Marie Blakeley of Hammonds look at the legislative developments aimed at tackling the problem in the UK and the remedies available to organisations.

The financing of today's sports stadia creates a number of challenges which can be met through various solutions, such as debt financing, as well as other methods which have been employed in recent stadia projects, including the use of national grants, sponsorship opportunities and advance ticket sales. Max Cairnduff and Anna Cooklin of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer examine the issues.

With the concepts of sustainability and legacy being central to any organisation that wishes to be involved in London 2012, the Olympic Delivery Authority has recently published its draft sustainability principles, which will eventually form part of the final Sustainability Plan, created by all agencies involved in London 2012. Simone Tudor, a senior solicitor at Wragge & Co LLP, examines the draft.

The four Italian clubs charged with influencing referees were able to effectively reduce their penalties through appeals, prompting frustration from sporting bodies such as UEFA, who complained of lacking the appropriate power to exclude clubs. Quirino Mancini of Sinisi Ceschini Mancini & Partners, and David Roberts and Michael Short of Olswang, discuss the appeals process, the financial and playing implications for the clubs involved and the lessons to be learned for governing bodies and sports rights holders.