Sports law

As artificial intelligence takes the field, sport faces new legal & governance dilemmas: Ian Blackshaw examines the state of play

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming sport, from recruitment and training to officiating and fan engagement. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dr Ian Blackshaw of Valloni Attorneys at Law explains how AI now influences everything from injury prevention to tactical decisions, with clubs using tools such as ‘TacticAI’ to gain competitive edges

The whistle has blown on RFC Seraing v FIFA, in which sports arbitration was pitted against EU competition law: Dr Estelle Ivanova explains the result at full time

RFC Seraing v FIFA, in which the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) reaffirmed that awards by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) may be reviewed by EU courts on public-policy grounds, is under examination in this week's NLJ by Dr Estelle Ivanova of Valloni Attorneys at Law, Zurich

Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ

Charles Pigott on how the courts are applying the For Women Scotland ruling

The case of Caster Semenya highlights the disadvantages faced by athletes under mandatory sports arbitration systems: Dr Estelle Ivanova sets out the need for greater oversight

In Semenya v Switzerland, the European Court of Human Rights found that Switzerland violated Caster Semenya’s right to a fair hearing by failing to rigorously review a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling that upheld discriminatory testosterone regulations. Dr Estelle Ivanova of Valloni Attorneys at Law examines the ruling, in which the court criticised the structural imbalance in international sports arbitration where athletes face mandatory arbitration under rules set by powerful governing bodies, in this week's NLJ

As the women’s Euros kicks off, Ian Blackshaw pitches in from the sidelines with some tips on how to tackle ambush marketing

Professor Ian Blackshaw, international sports lawyer and CAS member, warns in NLJ this week that ambush marketing is set to shadow the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 in Switzerland