Sport and competition law – the year in review 2019/20

Reviewing the competition law issues of the last year, one is struck by the realisation that many of the issues at stake will soon be eclipsed by the seismic events that are now transforming sport.  The world around us is in the process of being re-shaped in response to the COVID19 global pandemic, an unprecedented public health challenge in the post-war era.  Major sports events have been cancelled or suspended.  Organisers, federations as well as sportspersons now face extraordinary challenges in getting the show back on the road.  The competition law questions arising this summer were almost inconceivable just a few months ago.  Yet the last year has not sunk into irrelevance: the lessons from the key competition cases will inform many of the decisions that will have to be made in the coming months.   

Given that much remains in flux with respect to competition cases arising from the COVID19 pandemic, this review focuses on recent developments with regard to:

• Salary caps and financial fair play;
• Independent events and sportspersons’ rights of exploitation;
• Status of amateur athletes