On 24 and 25 October, the Asser Institute will host an advanced professional training co-organised by Ben Van Rompuy and Antoine Duval focused on 'EU competition law and transnational sports governance'. The training is building on their experience acting as legal advisors for the complaint submitted to the European Commission (EC) by two Dutch speed-skaters, Mark Tuitert and Niels Kerstholt, against the International Skating Union (ISU), leading to the first negative decision rendered by the EC against an international sports governing body (SGB).
The training will consist of:
- An in-depth introduction to the specific application of EU competition law to transnational sports governance
- Specific sessions on the different (national, European and transnational) processes (both judicial and administrative) through which EU competition law claims can be raised against international SGBs
- A concrete case study during which the group will be divided into teams representing different sides of a competition law claim involving an SGB
- A round-table with leading experts in EU competition law and sports for an interactive discussion on future developments in this area
[More information and registration HERE]
Why this professional training?
Transnational sports governance is not neutral, its exercise comes with considerable economic effects and consequences, which can be controversial. In recent years we have witnessed an uptick of challenges on the basis of EU competition law against the governance decisions of international SGBs. In 2017, the European Commission for the first time adopted a decision finding a sporting rule (the ISU’s Eligibility Rules prohibiting skaters from participating in third-party events) in violation of EU competition law. Since then, we have seen a string of decisions by national competition authorities and high-profile private actions being launched against, for instance, UEFA and FIFA by the European Super League Company, football club Royal Antwerp F.C. or football agents. In short, EU competition law has become the main legal avenue through which regulations and decisions of international SGBs are being contested– both from outside the Olympic family and within. It is therefore crucial that sports stakeholders become proficient in the language of EU competition law, in understanding the specificities of its application to transnational sports governance, and in grasping the intricacies of the legal processes that can be used to do so.
Is this training for you?
This training is primarily aimed at professionals involved in the field of sports governance, such as legal counsels of SGBs, practicing lawyers active in the sports sector, public servants involved in the enforcement of competition law in the sporting context, and representatives of athletes, clubs and other sports stakeholders. The advanced training will be both interactive, focusing on open exchanges between experts and participants, and participative, with the preparation of a case study in smaller groups.
[More information and registration HERE]
Speakers include:
[More information and registration HERE]
Programme
Day 1 - Tuesday, 24 October
12:30 – 13:00 - Registration
13:00 – 13:30 - Welcome and introduction - Antoine Duval & Ben Van Rompuy
13:30 – 15:00 - How EU competition law applies to transnational sports governance: Key doctrines and cases - Antoine Duval & Ben Van Rompuy
15:00 – 15:30 Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:30 - Bringing a competition law case against SGBs before the European Commission: Lessons from the ISU case - Ben Van Rompuy & Antoine Duval
16:30 – 17:30 - Bringing a competition law case against SGBs in national courts: The German experience - Mark E. Orth
17:30 – 18:00 - Bringing a competition law case against SGBs before the CAS: Opportunities and challenges - Antoine Duval
19:00 - Dinner
Day 2 - Wednesday, 25 October
9:00 – 12:00 - Case study on FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations and EU competition law - Antoine Duval, Ben Van Rompuy, Mark E. Orth
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 - Case study on FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations and EU competition law - Antoine Duval, Ben Van Rompuy, Mark E. Orth, An Vermeersch and Stephen Weatherill
15:00 – 15:30 - Coffee Break
15:30 – 17:00 - Closing discussion on the future of EU competition law and transnational sports governance - Antoine Duval, Ben Van Rompuy, Mark E. Orth, An Vermeersch, and Stephen Weatherill