Mediation in Sport: An Alternative Pathway to Dispute Resolution in Sport
Sports disputes, whether they arise from contractual disagreements, disciplinary actions, or governance issues, often involve high stakes, intense emotions, and a need for swift resolution.
Disputes can arise between athletes, teams, coaches, governing bodies, sponsors, and other stakeholders. Traditional methods of dispute resolution, such as litigation and arbitration, care time-consuming, costly, and adversarial, often damaging relationships and undermining the integrity of the sport.
Mediation is emerging as a valuable alternative dispute resolution mechanism in sport offering a confidential, flexible, and efficient process for resolving conflicts while preserving relationships.
Whilst mediation of civil disputes in many jurisdictions is well-entrenched mediation has not to date enjoyed the same level of engagement or success in the resolution of sports disputes.
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- Tags: Australian National Sports Tribunal | CAS Mediation Rules | Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) | Dispute Resolution | FIFA | FIFA Football Tribunal | FIFA Mediation Guidelines 2023 | Football | Mediation | Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC)
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Written by
Anthony Lo Surdo SC
Anthony Lo Surdo SC is an independent arbitrator, mediator and expert determiner practising from 8 Wentworth Chambers, Sydney; Lonsdale Chambers, Melbourne; and Arbitra International, London, Washington DC and Abu Dhabi.
A leading, internationally recognised sports law Silk, Anthony regularly sits as an arbitrator on international and domestic sport tribunals. His appointments include serving as an arbitrator and mediator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (General and Football Lists), a member of the Football Australia (FA) Appeal Panel, Chair of the FA Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, Deputy Chair of the FA Dispute Resolution Chamber, Chair of the Football NSW Appeals Panel, and Senior Member of the National Sports Tribunal. He was recognised in the Lexology Index, Australia & New Zealand (2025) in the category of "Sports & Entertainment" and by the Lexology Global Index (2025) in the category of "Sports."
Anthony is a former member of the English FA Judiciary Panel and Sports Resolutions (UK) International Panel, and previously served as Disciplinary Counsel for the National Rugby League. He has also appeared as counsel for athletes and sports associations in anti-doping, disciplinary, regulatory and governance disputes.
