On 4 October 2024 the Court of Justice of the European Union (“CJEU”) decided that article 9.1 and parts of article 17 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players are contrary to (subject to any justification) articles 45 and (subject to any permitted exemption) 101(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This article explains the CJEU’s decision and considers the impact the decision could have.

On Sunday 18 April the European Super League (“ESL”) issued a press release stating that ‘Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs’. This article considers what challenges the ESL and its Founding Clubs face in seeking to create its proposed new mid-week competition, and whether the ESL could oppose those challenges.

Kieran Trippier’s 10-week worldwide ban from all football related activity has come unstuck courtesy of Atlético. This article explains how The FA was unsuccessful in its application to vary the effective date of the 10-week suspension in an attempt to avoid the disruption caused by Atlético.

On 22 December 2020 it was announced that Kieran Trippier was sanctioned with a 10-week worldwide suspension from all football-related activity and a £70,000 fine. The sanction was imposed following proved charges against Trippier that he had provided inside information to others and which was then used by those others to place bets. This article explains how those charges were proved and why the sanction was imposed, and also considers the appropriateness of the sanction.

The FA has released its Governing Body Endorsement (“GBE”) criteria to be applied to all foreign players and coaches sought to be employed by football clubs in England once the Brexit implementation period ends on 31 December 2020. This article provides an explanation of the GBE criteria that applies when clubs are signing men’s players.

Recent decisions concerning a dispute between the TTFA and FIFA have demonstrated the foundational aspect of the FIFA Statutes to the laws of world football, and FIFA’s position at the apex of football’s governing bodies. This article explains those decisions and provides comments from Jonathan Walker, an attorney who represented FIFA throughout.

The Brexit implementation period ends on 31 December 2020, bringing an end to freedom of movement. Football clubs seeking to sign EEA nationals as players from 1 January 2021 will be required to comply with the Home Office's Points-Based System and The FA's Governing Body Endorsement criteria, which will have a negative impact on the number of European players entering the English game.