Law

European Parliament votes against player quotas - 9 May 08

The European Parliament voted yesterday in favour of a report, which opposes the introduction of rules such as Sepp Blatter’s proposed ‘6+5’ limit on the number foreign players at football clubs.

Anti-doping laws stepped up for Tour de France - 1 May 08

The French government has moved to toughen anti-doping legislation ahead of the Tour de France.

Spain competition watchdog queries football deals - 10 Apr 08

Spain's Competition Commission opened proceedings against broadcasters and Primera Liga football clubs over the sale of TV rights.

Socceroos games to be added to anti-siphoning list - 8 Apr 08

The World Cup qualifying matches of the Australian national team, the Socceroos, will be shown on free-to-air television after the Australian government agreed to add them to the anti-siphoning list.

Australian government opens anti-siphoning talks - 19 Mar 08

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said discussions have begun about which sports should be made available to subscription broadcasters.

Bundesliga TV deal could be under threat - 11 Mar 08

The €3 billion agreement between the German Football League (DFL) and Leo Kirch's KF 15 group to market the TV rights for Bundesliga matches could come under pressure after a move by cartel authorities.

Court of Arbitration set to rule on Paris-Nice race - 7 Mar 08

The Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule today on whether teams and cyclists could be sanctioned for participating in the Paris-Nice race, which starts on Sunday.

German FA and League raided in cartel office probe - 27 Feb 08

The offices of the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Football League (DFL) were raided by cartel investigators as part of a probe into whether they sought to limit competition for football sponsorship.

Australia considers changes to anti-siphoning law - 7 Feb 08

The Australian government is considering making changes to the laws that protect big-ticket sporting events for free-to-air coverage in a bid to drive the take-up of free-to-air digital channels.

New trial date set for Seven Network case - 7 Feb 08

Australia's Seven Network will appeal the ruling in the $200 million C7 practice suit in a three-week hearing in November.

New alcohol ad ban prevents Lithuanians watching Euroleague basketball - 4 Jan 08

Lithuanian TV broadcasters were forced to cancel live coverage of Euroleague basketball matches due to a new law banning prime-time advertising of alcohol.

New ruling in Mediapro- Sogecable TV rights battle - 18 Dec 07

The Spanish Mediapro agency said the latest Madrid court ruling prevents Sogecable and its Audiovisual Sport unit from selling football rights onto third parties.

Comcast sues NFL Network - 17 Dec 07

US cable company Comcast has filed a suit against the National Football League, claiming it was acting in breach of contract for encouraging Comcast to drop their service.

Mitchell report exposes MLB drugs culture - 14 Dec 07

A report into the use of performance enhancing substances in Major League Baseball has unveiled the existence of a 'serious drugs culture'.

Audiovisual Sport sues Mediapro - 29 Nov 07

Audiovisual Sport is reportedly suing the Mediapro agency in the ongoing battle of Spanish football TV rights.

Spanish court rules in Mediapro- Sogecable battle - 7 Nov 07

A Spanish court ruled that Mediapro must acquire the TV rights for Spanish football’s Primera Liga from Sogecable’s Audiovisual Sports in order to continue broadcasting league coverage.

French League to get four-year TV deal - 24 Oct 07

French authorities are set to allow the French football league, (the Ligue de Football Professionnel) to sell its TV rights over a four-year period in order to help it solicit more competition from the market.

Appeal extends Australia's C7 court case - 23 Oct 07

Australia’s Seven Network has appealed the decision to dismiss its lawsuit alleging Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and others colluded to win TV rights for the Australian Football League, forcing the closure of its C7 sports channel.

Appeal against Infront victory dismissed by EU judge - 23 Oct 07

A European Union judge has recommended the dismissal of the European Commission's appeal of a court victory involving sport and media company Infront and the UK’s sporting ‘crown jewels’.

Lewinton to quit Virgin Media for legal business - 12 Oct 07

Peter Lewinton is to relinquish his role of head of sport at Virgin Media in the New Year to focus on his legal training business, legaltraining.tv.

French clubs’ association calls for Ligue 1 to delay TV rights tender - 9 Oct 07

The UCPF, the Union des clubs professionnels de football, has asked the French league to suspend its TV rights tender.

IOC backs EU sports reform - 8 Oct 07

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come out in favour of reform discussions on a new legal basis for sport in the European Union.

Congress to review player transfer rules - 27 Sep 07

Football stakeholders are set to review FIFA's existing player transfer legislation at an international congress hosted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), October 26-27, in Madrid.

Court sets date for Americas Cup hearing - 12 Sep 07

The Supreme Court of the State of New York will hear arguments next month, in a case that could determine who makes the rules for the next America's Cup.

NEW WARRANTS FOR MAN CITY OWNER SHINAWATRA - 3 Sep 07

Authorities in Thailand have issued new warrants for the arrest of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now owner of Premier League Manchester City.

ICL claims important legal win over BCCI - 28 Aug 07

The controversial new Indian Cricket League (ICL) has won an important legal victory ahead of its launch.

Legal eagle moves to Sportfive - 23 Aug 07

Sportfive has clinched a crucial signing to its legal team after nabbing the associate general counsel of ESPN Star Sports.

REAL MADRID DEAL RAISES QUESTION OVER ONLINE GAMING IN SPAIN - 20 Jun 07

Spain's communications watchdog, Asociación de Usuarios de la Comunicación (AUC), has logged a formal complaint with Spain's Ministry of Economy and Taxes, demanding an investigation into online gaming company, bwin's sponsorship of Real Madrid.

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES TO GO UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AT SPORT AND TECHNOLOGY: THE CONFERENCE 2007 - 13 Jun 07

A growing number of sports organisations including the English Premier League have initiated legal action against social networking website You Tube/Google, claiming copyright infringement.

FRENCH SPORTS JOIN PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION AGAINST YOUTUBE - 7 Jun 07

The national French tennis federation, Federation Française de Tennis, and the French football league, Ligue de Football Professionnel, along with Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co joined the Premier League’s class action lawsuit against YouTube and Google.

AT&T’S NASCAR BRANDING WIN COULD HAVE KNOCK-ON EFFECT - 30 May 07

Communications giant AT&T’s victory in its lawsuit against NASCAR that allowed the company to change the branding on its car could reportedly spark similar moves from wireless brand Alltel.

UEFA PRESIDENT PLATINI CALLS FOR G14 TO DISBAND - 29 May 07

UEFA president Michel Platini asked the G14 group of European football clubs to disband and also to drop a number of lawsuits it is supporting.

US APPEALS COURT ASKS FOR REVIEW OF MASTERCARD RULING - 29 May 07

A US appeals court ordered a lower court to review its December ruling giving MasterCard World Cup sponsorship for the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.

SPORTS MINISTER WARNS PREMIER LEAGUE TO REFORM - 8 May 07

UK sports minister, Richard Caborn, warned the Premier League to back proposed new reforms contained within a European white paper that will address the way football is governed.

SPORT AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE GOES BIGGER AND BETTER - 20 Apr 07

The third edition of Sport and Technology: The Conference will be held at a new, bigger venue when the highly-acclaimed event returns on Friday 29 June
2007.

FEDERAL COURT DENIES TELSTRA DAMAGES CLAIM - 17 Apr 07

In a landmark media case over rugby league media rights, an Australian Federal Court ruled that telecoms company Telstra cannot claim substantial damages from the pay-TV operator it claims is breaching its copyright.

US COURT TO HEAR NASCAR SPONSORSHIP BATTLE WITH AT&T - 17 Apr 07

A US District Court in Atlanta will next week hear the dispute that has pitted one of NASCAR's most respected team owners, AT&T against one of its biggest revenue sources, Nextel.

EUROPE’S BASKETBALL CLUBS DISCUSS WHITE PAPER - 12 Apr 07

Europe's basketball clubs and leagues met yesterday to discuss the EU white paper on sport.

TELSTRA SET TO SUE PARTNERS OVER DIGITAL RIGHTS - 4 Apr 07

Australian telecoms company Telstra is to sue Fox Sports in a battle over rugby league media rights.

SECONDSOUT.COM PLAN TO SUE YOUTUBE - 26 Mar 07

The UK’s Times newspaper reports British boxing entrepreneur Robert Waterman is planning to sue YouTube for $1 million after it carried clips of the WBO World heavyweight boxing title bout between Vladimir Klitschko and Ray Austin from Mannheim, Germany on March 10.

AT&T TAKES NASCAR TO COURT OVER BRANDING ROW - 19 Mar 07

Communications giant AT&T has filed suit against NASCAR alleging the US motorsport series is trying to force the company out of the sport.

CANADA TABLES OLYMPIC BRAND LEGISLATION - 5 Mar 07

The Government of Canada tabled a bill to introduce brand protection legislation for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

G14 HINT AT LEGAL BATTLE TRUCE - 22 Feb 07

European soccer pressure group the G14 has hinted it could be prepared to drop a major legal wrangle with FIFA in the club versus country debate.

PHILIP MORRIS MAY CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE F1 STRATEGY - 29 Jan 07

Philip Morris, the owner of the Marlboro cigarette brand will apparently consider shifting its sponsorship of the Ferrari F1 team to another of its brands should it run into problems with its subliminal Marlboro branding.

LYON FIRST FRENCH CLUB TO FLOAT ON STOCK MARKET - 26 Jan 07

French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais is set to become the first French club listed on the Paris stock market.

BERLUSCONI WANTS SERIE A REFUND - 25 Jan 07

Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset claims this summer’s match-fixing scandal in Serie A devalued its TV rights.

Campus 07: 90 days 90 speakers - 19 Jan 07

With 90 days to go before Campus 07, SportBusiness has signed up over 90 leading speakers to address the conference in April with new presenters confirming all the time.

PORTUGAL TO LAUNCH DIGITAL TV TENDER THIS YEAR - 11 Jan 07

The Portuguese government is set to launch a tender this year for terrestrial digital TV, aiming to start broadcasts in 2008.

ANTI-TRUST PROBE FOR SOGECABLE, MEDIAPRO PACT - 5 Jan 07

Spain's SDC anti-trust authority is reviewing the deal between broadcaster Sogecable SA and agency and production company Mediapro combining their Primera Liga and Spanish Cup TV rights.

FIFA WINS MASTERCARD BREATHING SPACE - 2 Jan 07

The New York Southern District Court ruled that FIFA does not have to immediately comply with the court order issued 7 December 2006 requiring it to grant MasterCard Inc. an eight-year World Cup sponsorship deal, pending the outcome of the requested appeal.

LE MONDE FACES LEGAL BATTLE WITH BARCA - 11 Dec 06

Spanish soccer giants Barcelona have vowed to sue French newspaper Le Monde over allegations it has made.

FRENCH LEAGUE OPPOSES PAY-MERGER - 23 Nov 06

The French football league, Ligue de Football Professionnel lodged a complaint to the Prime Minister’s office about the merger of rival French pay-operators CanalSat and TPS.

FIORENTINA TO CONTINUE COURT BATTLE AFTER ARBITRATION - 13 Oct 06

Serie A side Fiorentina said it will appeal to the civil courts if the points penalty it received in a match-fixing trial is not annulled after a hearing in front of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

SOCHI 2014 ENSURES PROTECTION OF THE OLYMPIC LOGO - 6 Oct 06

The Russian government approved stricter protection for intellectual property rights and said it would do its utmost to protect the Olympic logo and emblem, should Sochi’s 2014 Olympic Bid be successful in July of 2007.

ONLINE GAMING COMPANIES MAY STOP US TRADING - 2 Oct 06

Online gaming companies including Sportingbet, 888 and PartyGaming said they would likely pull out of the United States and warned on future profits after the US congress unexpectedly passed legislation that would ban online gaming.

FIFA SUPPORTS IOC SEMINAR ON SPORT AUTONOMY - 29 Sep 06

Football’s world governing body FIFA offered its full support for the resolutions adopted during the First Seminar on the Autonomy of the Olympic and Sports Movement which was attended by representatives of the international federations of 28 out of the 35 Olympic sports.

GLOBAL MEDIA PANEL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SOCCEREX 2006 - 28 Sep 06

Soccerex announced a unique panel that will be focusing on Global Media at the 10th Soccerex, to be held at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 26th-28th November 2006.

CHAIRMAN OF SPORTINGBET QUITS - 15 Sep 06

Peter Dicks, chairman of online gambling company Sportingbet, has quit his post. The move follows his arrest in America last week on charges of “gambling by computer”

DRAFT BILL COULD JEOPARDISE SOUTH AFRICAN SPORT - 14 Sep 06

Civil rights initiative Afriforum has warned that proposed legislation could negatively affect South Africa's participation in the 2010 football World Cup.

ITALY TO INTRODUCE CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAW - 12 Sep 06

The Italian government will introduce a new conflict of interest" law that would bar government officials from holding management or operative roles in major private companies, but not from owning them.

FOXTEL SAYS MEDIA REFORMS MUST ADDRESS ANTI-SIPHONING - 12 Sep 06

Australian pay-TV broadcaster Foxtel said incoming media reforms must include tough "use it or lose it" rules to prevent free-TV channels hoarding sports events they have no intention of covering.

TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES OPPOSE TREATY ON TV RIGHTS - 11 Sep 06

Proposed new rules to clampdown on TV signal piracy and protect broadcasters’ intellectual property rights are being opposed by new media companies including Dell, HP, AT&T and Sony as well as podcasters and internet broadcasters.

RFU REACHES RELEASE AGREEMENT - 1 Sep 06

A long-running dispute between the Rugby Football Union and England’s elite clubs seems to be over after agreement was reached on player release for international duty, reports the BBC.

MILAN GOES TO COURT OF ARBITRATION - 30 Aug 06

Italian soccer club AC Milan is to take its fight to have its punishment for involvement in a match-fixing scandal cut to the Italian Olympic Committee’s (CONI) Court of Arbitration.

JUVE IN LATEST PLEA FOR SERIE A RETURN - 29 Aug 06

Italian soccer giants Juventus have reiterated they will drop plans to go through the civil courts – if their Serie A status is restored in time for next month’s season start.

FIGC THREATENS JUVE OVER APPEAL - 24 Aug 06

Italian soccer governing body the FIGC has warned Juventus it faces stiff sanctions if it pushes ahead with its plans to appeal against its punishment for match-fixing through the civil courts.

WTA TOUR SIGN VITAMIN DEAL - 24 Aug 06

The WTA Tour has confirmed it has penned a ground-breaking three-year deal with vitamin company Usana Health Sciences.

AC MILAN ADMITTED TO UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - 3 Aug 06

UEFA’s Emergency Panel admitted AC Milan to Champions League third qualifying round.

US TO LIMIT ONLINE GAMBLING - 12 Jul 06

The US House of Representatives voted to introduce proposals which would severely limit online gambling.

dupe - 30 Jun 06

Soccer world governing body FIFA has cleared English Premiership club Arsenal of any wrong-doing in connection to its links with Belgian club Beveren.

FIFA PROBE CLEARS ARSENAL - 29 Jun 06

Soccer world governing body FIFA has cleared English Premiership club Arsenal of any wrong-doing in connection to its links with Belgian club Beveren.

NFL STANDS FIRM ON $20m LEGAL CLAIM - 27 Jun 06

The NFL says it will strongly fight a legal battle with seven current and former players who are suing the league and its union for $20m.

LEAGUE 'DISAPPOINTED' BY HIGH COURT RULING - 25 Jun 06

English soccer’s Football League says it is ‘disappointed’ by the ruling made by a London High Court judge against its former legal advisors.

IRB APPOINTS LEGAL PARTNERS FOR WORLD CUP - 12 Jun 06

International law firm Clifford Chance has been appointed official legal advisors to the Rugby World Cup 2007 by governing body the IRB.

WEMBLEY CASE SET FOR RULING - 4 Jun 06

A London High Court judge is expected to deliver judgement today on a legal row raging between contractors working on the new Wembley Stadium.

FIFA TALKS GO LIVE ON WEB - 4 Jun 06

FIFA’s 56th Congress – taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, ahead of the World Cup kicking-off in Germany – will be streamed live via the governing body’s website.

IS G14 ABOUT TO GO GLOBAL? - 1 Jun 06

Dozens of the biggest soccer clubs from around the world are reported to have attended a meeting hosted by European pressure group the G14 yesterday which could see the organisation go global.

ADIDAS COMPLETES NAME CHANGE - 31 May 06

Sportswear giant adidas has finally completed the legal paperwork to see the company name changed.

WORLD CUP WEBSITE SCORES EARLY GOAL - 30 May 06

Website traffic heading towards the official FIFA site for next month’s soccer World Cup is rocketing, according to the latest figures.

G14 v FIFA CASE GOES TO EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE - 15 May 06

A landmark legal case brought against soccer’s world governing body FIFA has been referred, as expected, to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

G14 AWAIT COURT DECISION IN FIFA FIGHT - 14 May 06

The G14 pressure group of Europe’s biggest soccer clubs will today look to score a major victory over the sport’s world governing body as the result of a landmark legal case is due to be delivered.

UEFA WINS WEB RIGHTS LEGAL BATTLE - 11 May 06

UEFA has obtained a major victory in the UK High Court over the illegal streaming of Champions League soccer matches via the internet.

MASTERCARD IN WORLD CUP BATTLE WITH VISA - 21 Apr 06

MasterCard International has filed a complaint in a US court seeking an injunction against FIFA to prevent it proceeding with a deal with Visa International to sponsor the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.

ANGER OVER CARDIFF TEST VENUE - 21 Apr 06

Cardiff has been awarded a 2009 Ashes Test match, prompting an angry response on behalf of one of the venues that missed out.

NBA IN SILVER APPOINTMENT - 20 Apr 06

Adam Silver has been appointed NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer.

MONZA CONFIRMED FOR ITALIAN GP - 13 Apr 06

Monza will host host this season's Italian Grand Prix after the conclusion of a long-running row over noise pollution at the track.

POUND AND ROGGE FACE LEGAL WRANGLE - 29 Mar 06

A major row is brewing after the legal representative of Austrian ski coach Walter Mayer vowed to launch a lawsuit against IOC president Jacques Rogge.

FIFA CONFIDENT OVER G14 ACTION - 24 Mar 06

FIFA is confident of a decision in its favour in relation to the damages claim by Belgian club Charleroi, after one of its players was injured while on international duty.

SPORTS LAW CONFERENCE - 7 Mar 06

Achieving optimal brand exposure, ticketing, commercial rights delivery and image rights are among the issues to be addressed at the Annual Conference on International Sports Law.

RFU FINALLY PAYS UP FOR LIONS PLAYERS - 22 Feb 06

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has conceded defeat in its battle over payments to clubs that fielded Lions players.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE KICKS OFF ITV DIGITAL COURT CASE - 9 Feb 06

The Football League is attempting to recover nearly £150million in lost revenue and damages relating to its broadcast deal with the now defunct ITV Digital.

FIFA ENDS PARASITE PROMOTION - 8 Feb 06

FIFA has shown its teeth ahead of this summer's World Cup by ending a parasite promotion by a Burger King franchise in Israel.

CLINTONS ROUND OFF THE ARK - 16 Jan 06

UK-based media, entertainment and sports law firm Clintons Solicitors have signed up as legal partner to sports consulting and research company ArkSports.

FIFA TAKES EBAY ACTION - 20 Dec 05

A decorator who found the country name tags used in the recent draw for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and put them up for sale on auction site eBay is set to face legal action from the sport’s governing body.

HAWK-EYE LOOKS TO SPORT AND TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE - 15 Dec 05

Hawk-Eye inventor, Dr Paul Hawkins, is to speak at Sport and Technology: The Conference 2006.

NEW BIDDING UNDERWAY FOR INDIAN CRICKET - 12 Dec 05

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to re-open bidding for the rights to screen the national team's matches on television.

MARKETERS STRUGGLING TO BE HEARD - 7 Dec 05

Just 11 of the top 100 FTSE organisations in the UK have a marketing executive at main board level, according to research.

ECCLESTONE SELLS F1 INTEREST - 28 Nov 05

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and German bank BayernLB have sold their controlling stake in the Formula One Group.

THE COMPUTER GAME OPPORTUNITY - 21 Nov 05

Multi-Platform Games Licensing 2005 in London next month looks at how to maximise brand potential through computer games.

SEVEN EASES AUSSIE RULES RIGHTS RIFT - 15 Nov 05

Australia's Seven Network may have boosted its chances of broadcasting Australian Rules football as the AFL TV rights battle reached a critical stage.