Sports Law

Sports law is an umbrella term used to describe the legal issues at work in the world of both amateur and professional sports.

This area of law was established as a seperate and important entity only a few decades ago, coinciding with the rise of player agents and increased media scrutiny of sports law topics.

Sports law can be roughly divided into the area of amateur, professional and international sports.

Amateur
Amateur athletes participate in sports
as an avocation (for pleaseure)

Professional
Professional athletes are involved in sports
as a vocation

International
The two major international competitions are the Olympics are the World Cup

Legal Services

Player representation
Business start-up as an athlete
Negotiate personal contracts
Negotiate marketing contracts
Create business opportunitites

A. Business Start-up as an athlete
See Business & Commercial Law page

B. Contracts
Personal / Marketing Contracts:
Between Club & Player
Image Rights
Descrimination
Player Transfers & Loan-outs
Individual Appearance &
Participation Agreements
Sponsorship, Endorsements / Merchandising Agreements between Player & Agent
Business Contracts - outside sport:
Personal websites -
web commissioning agreement
Setting up a business outside sport (see Business & Commercial Law page.)

Professional Sports
Business Representation