Sports law

Ian Blackshaw looks at efforts to combat racist abuse around football both online & at games

Now that a French court has dismissed Cardiff City’s claim, Michael L Nash reflects on lessons to learn from the case of Emiliano Sala

Dr Ian Blackshaw on why the 2026 Men’s World Cup is attracting attention well before kick-off

FIFA’s 2026 Men's World Cup is already mired in controversy, with complaints over ‘excessive prices’ and opaque ticketing. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dr Ian Blackshaw of Valloni Attorneys warns that governing bodies may face scrutiny under EU competition law, with allegations of a ‘dominant—if not monopolistic—position’ in ticket sales

A €60.9m award to Kylian Mbappé has refocused attention on football’s controversial ‘ethics bonus’ clauses. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Estelle Ivanova of Valloni Attorneys at Law examines how such provisions sit within French labour law

The growing use of ethics bonus clauses in footballers’ employment contracts demands sophisticated drafting to avoid costly litigation, writes Dr Estelle Ivanova

As the Winter Olympics open in Milan and Cortina, legal disputes are once again being resolved almost as fast as the athletes compete. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Ian Blackshaw of Valloni Attorneys examines the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS's) ad hoc divisions, which can decide cases within 24 hours

To mark the start of the Winter Olympics, Ian Blackshaw reflects on the jurisdiction of the Court of Arbitration for Sport

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