Extra Time – The Morgan Sports Law Football Conference

13th April 2021

Events

Morgan Sports Law hosted ‘Extra Time’, a two-day online conference to address some of the key legal issues affecting the football industry today.

Divided into five separate interactive webinars, the event provided insight into and answered questions about areas of contemporary importance to stakeholders across the game, ranging from the termination of playing contracts and the enforcement of monetary awards, to the financial regulation of clubs and the use of social media.

Session Recordings

Each session was recorded and is now available to watch on demand. If you would like access to any of the webinar recordings, please email events@morgansl.com.

Presentation Slides

The PowerPoint on 'The FIFA RSTP' presented by Erika Montemor Ferreira from FIFA in Session One: Just Cause to Terminate a Contract. How, When and How Much?, is also available for download here.

Who would be interested?

This event is recommended for anyone with an interest in sport and/or law, but will also be of significant interest to the following:

Current and former football players;
Football agents;
Football clubs;
Football player and club unions;
Football governing bodies; and
Key football stakeholders.

Event Schedule

Wednesday 9 June

Session 1: 9.00 BST – Just Cause to Terminate a Contract: How, When and How Much?

Session 2: 12.00 BST – Execution of Monetary Decisions

Session 3: 15.00 BST – Social Media and Football

Thursday 10 June

Session 4: 9.00 BST – Key Aspects of Financial Fair Play

Session 5: 12.00 BST – Football and Salary Caps

Session Details

1. Just cause to terminate a contract: How, When and How Much?

This session focused on the termination of players' contracts (by players and clubs) with or without just cause, and considered the most common reasons for doing so and the relevant provisions of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). Additionally it addressed the issue of the calculation of compensation in light of changes to the RSTP, and their impact on liquidated-damages and penalty clauses.

HOST: William Sternheimer, Partner

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Erika Montemor Ferreira (Head of Players’ Status, FIFA)
Mario Flores Chemor (Head of Sports Legal, European Club Association)
Monica Nägele (Sports Manager for athletes)
Roy Vermeer (Legal Director, FIFPRO)

*You can download the presentation from Session One which covers 'The FIFA RSTP' in detail, here.

2. Execution of Monetary Decisions

This session focused on the new enforcement procedure under Article 24bis RSTP and whether it is possible to appeal the letter from FIFA enforcing a ban. It also addressed the implications for appeals to CAS and considered whether CAS can decide to apply this provision even if the relevant FIFA body did not. FIFA disciplinary proceedings was also considered.

HOST: Imen Larabi

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Alexandra Gomez Bruinewoud (Senior Legal Counsel, FIFPRO)
Herve Le Lay (CAS Arbitrator)
Jaime Cambreleng Contreras (Head of Litigation at FIFA)

3. Social Media and Football

This session focused on the use of social media by players. It will consider both the misconduct issues that players and their representatives must be aware of, as well as the ways in which players can (or should) be better protected from abuse on social media platforms. The panel will discuss recent cases such as those involving players such as Cavani and Neymar Jr, as well as discussing strategies for shielding players from trolls.

HOST: Donna Bartley, Senior Associate

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Kendrah Potts (Barrister, 4 New Square Chambers)
Matt Himsworth (Lawyer and Director, B5 Consultancy)
Troy Townsend (Head of Development, Kick It Out)

4. Key Aspects of Financial Fair Play

This session addressed the preventive measures clubs can take in relation to their compliance with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations, as well as the role of settlement agreements. The panel also discussed the UEFA and CAS cases dealing with FFP to date, such as the Manchester City and PSG cases, and considered the future of FFP and the impact of COVID-19.

HOST: Tom Seamer, Barrister

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Mark Hovell (CAS Arbitrator & Partner, Mills & Reeve)
Mark Phillips QC (Leading Counsel, South Square Chambers)
Tariq Panja (Reporter, The New York Times)

5. Football and Salary caps

The final session focused on the use of salary caps in football. The discussion covered the introduction of salary caps by the EFL in England, which was ultimately found to be unlawful, as well as the potential for broader use of such financial regulation across the footballing world. Consideration was given to the existing salary caps in La Liga and the MLS, for example, as well as to other sports where such mechanisms have been successful.

HOST: Ben Cisneros, Trainee Solicitor

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Brendan Schwab (Executive Director, World Players Association)
Dr Katarina Pijetlovic (Reader in Sports Law, Manchester Metropolitan University)
Scott Pioli (NFL Analyst, NFL Media)
Thomas Horton (Barrister)

Questions

If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to our team at events@morgansl.com.