News

Please find attached the press release issued yesterday by our client A22.

RTBF, the French-speaking Belgian public television and radio station, has just published the following article on its website:

Following in the footsteps of the French and Dutch unions, the Belgian union for professional footballers (United Athletes) has announced that it is actively supporting the "Justice for Players" class action lawsuit against FIFA.

it is actively supporting the ‘Justice for Players’ class action lawsuit against FIFA

Unanimously, Fifpro, Fifpro Europe, Football Supporters Europe and - last but not least- the European Commission condemn continuous FIFA’s interferences with the legitimate players unions (known as “Union Busting” tactics).

UNFP has just published a press release announcing that it is joining, as co-claimant, the "Justice for Players" class action

Following a decision by FIFA, Lucas RIBEIRO COSTA has received the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) allowing him to play in official competitions for his new club, Cultural Leonesa, with immediate effect

Lassana DIARRA is claiming €65 million gross (€35 million net) in compensation from FIFA and the Belgian Football Association (with interest continuing to accrue until the judgment is handed down).

See attached JfP's press release.

the CJEU, sitting in Grand Chamber, ruled that the arbitral awards of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, since they result from compulsory arbitration imposed by the statutes of FIFA, UEFA and their members, have no res judicata effect within the European Union or even any probative force

No fair trial in CAS regarding forced arbitration!

Dupont-Hissel represents RFC Seraing.

For more information, see for instance

We draw your best attention to the information note that Fifpro Europe has just published:

In short, after the Diarra judgement, collective bargaining at EU level is now a "must".

TICOMBO FILES ANTITRUST COMPLAINT AGAINST THE IOC AND ITS ORGANISING
COMMITTEES BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE
TICKETS FOR CONSUMERS

‘Should I stay or should I go? The FIFA Transfer System is No More’.

the arbitration awards of the CAS (Switzerland), since they are the result of forced arbitration imposed by FIFA's statutes and since FIFA and its members have arrogated to themselves the power to self-enforce their disciplinary sanctions, do not have any res judicata effect within the EU.

Elena CONGOST, Paralympic marathon runner, and Mia CAROL BRUGUERA, her guide, take the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to court in Paris

As reported by the Guardian, "Real Madrid" evoke Titanic and Asterix in vow to keep pushing for Super League" (see attached document):

On 25 November 2024, FIFA issued a decision of great symbolic significance, since - by this act - FIFA is (finally) ratifying publicly the effects of the ruling handed down on 4 October by the CJEU in the case of Lassana Diarra v. FIFA.

In these proceedings, which concern in particular the EU legality of FIFA's decisions creating the 2025 Club World Cup, the Tribunal de l'Entreprise in Brussels is being asked to refer questions to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling.

...

the Madrid Commercial Court confirms that UEFA and FIFA have abused their dominant position.

On 14 May 2024, Jean-Louis DUPONT and Martin HISSEL gave a Masterclass on ‘EU Law and Sport: when confrontation generates innovation’, as part of the Master in International Sports Law at the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid.

The First Advocate General of the CJEU, Mr SZPUNAR, delivered his Opinion in this case on 30 April.

Case 650/22 is currently pending before the CJEU

Here is the press release from the CJEU, which is self-explanatory:

The CJEU rules that UEFA rules and similar rules of national federations imposing quotas of "home-grown players" may infringe the free movement of workers and free competition guaranteed by the TFEU

The CJEU today confirmed that the first three "sport" judgments will be delivered on 21 December at 9.30am.

"Breakaways or crossing borders: what is the future of European football?".

In this case, the Court of Cassation followed the position defended by our client, RFC Seraing.

See:

By Robby Houben (University of Antwerp) & Siniša Petrović (University of Zagreb).

See, on "Asser International Sports Law Blog": https://www.asser.nl/sportslaw/blog

In case C-680/21, in which "Dupont-Hissel" represents Lior Refaelov and Royal Antwerp FC, on 9 March 2023, Mr Szpunar, the First Advocate General of the CJEU, delivered his conclusions.

In its decision, the Madrid court stresses that the "values of sport" (which the international football federations claim to be guaranteed by Article 165 TFEU) are in no way such as to justify their absolute monopoly and that the pseudo-European model of sport is not a binding or uniform norm.

This 13 January in Brussels (or "on line"), "Concurrences" organises a seminar on "THE FUTURE OF SPORT GOVERNANCE IN EUROPE. THE TIMES: THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'".

On Friday 2 December 2022, Bernd REICHART, CEO of A22, spoke to the Spanish media at a conference in Madrid.

Judges' questions focus on the discriminatory nature of the rules on "home-grown players" - First Advocate General to deliver his Opinion on 9 March 2023.

On 19 October 2022, A22 Sports Management, a co-claimant in the ongoing proceedings between the European Super League Company and UEFA, appointed Bernd Reichart as its Chief Executive Officer.

On 20 September 2022, the Mons Court of Appeal referred a question to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling on the legality of FIFA's current transfer system with regard to the free movement of workers and free competition. The question referred for a preliminary ruling is worded as follows: "Are Art...

The first article is authored by Professor Wathelet, ex Judge and ex first Advocate General at the CJEU. Professor Wathelet looks at the sports program that the CJEU has to face in the coming months. The second article is by Professor Robby Houben (University of Antwerp), who questions the future...

"Dupont-Hissel represents the claimants in the action launched on 21 July 2022 by Swift Hespérange, "Leopard" (sponsor) and a supporter against UEFA and the Fédération Luxembourgeoise de Football (FLF), challenging the EU legality of various rules of these two federations.

On July 11 and 12, the Grand Chamber (15 judges) of the CJEU held the hearing in the Super League v. UEFA and FIFA case.

See: https://www.politico.eu/article/hold-football-super-league-court-hearing-set-for-july/

UEFA president threatens a US match organiser because simply because he works for Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus ...

Some news transcends law and economics: it is sociological in nature. Such is the case of the latest women's Clasico, which broke the attendance record for a women's match.

Andrea AGNELLI spoke about the continuation of the ESL project at the "FT Business of Football" summit in London, on 3 March 2022.

"Dupont-Hissel represents the plaintiffs

A World Cup every 2 years. Why not the same regarding EURO ... ?

Lawyers for ESL promoter company A22 say Madrid judge was “alarmed by threats of Ceferin” and “thinks the merits of the case are good”.

FIFA's plan to hold its flagship tournament every two years is causing a stir.

After PSG, it's Newcastle's turn to be owned, in short, by a state.

The Court of First Instance in Brussels has just referred questions to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling.