In search of a working notion of lex sportiva

Article
First Online:

Abstract

The emergence of a lex specialis regime and its interaction with the established, governing lex generalis in their overlapping spheres of application is always an intriguing legal relationship to explore. In this article, the focus will be on the development of legal principles and rules that have been/can be collectively described as lex sportiva. However, it is notable that those involved in the consideration, usage and application of this notion have not agreed as to the scope and delimitation of the concept. It is debated whether lex sportiva exists in the first place, its legal sources and its purpose. The risk is for the concept becoming redundant when not vilified as a hidden strategy to exclude non-sports-related law from the ambit of sport. Through an examination of the different propositions to the framework of the term, this article will shed light on the existence, utility and limits of the development of this conceptualisation.

Keywords

Lex sportiva Jurisprudence CAS 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

Articles

  1. Beloff M (2012) The specificity of sport—rhetoric or reality? Int Sports Law Rev 4:97–107Google Scholar
  2. Beloff M, Beloff R (2007) The field of play. In: Hetherington S (ed) Halsbury’s laws of England centenary essays. LexisNexis Butterworths, London, p 147Google Scholar
  3. Casini L (2010) The making of a Lex Sportiva: the court of arbitration for sport ‘Der Ernährer’ 12. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1621335 Accessed 26 Jan 2014
  4. Foster K (2003) Is there a Global Sports Law? Entertain Sports Law J 2(1):17Google Scholar
  5. Foster K (2005) Lex Sportiva and Lex Ludica: the Court Of Arbitration for Sport’s Jurisprudence. Entertain Sports Law J 3(2). http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/eslj/issues/volume3/number2/foster/
  6. Hatzimihail NE (2008) The many lives—and faces—of Lex Mercatoria: History as Genealogy in International Business Law. Law Contemp Probl 71(3):173Google Scholar
  7. Kadens E (2012) The myth of the customary law merchant. Texas Law Rev 90(5):1153–1206Google Scholar
  8. Lenard M (2009–2010) The future of sports dispute resolution. Pepperdine Dispute Resolut Law J 10(1):179Google Scholar
  9. McLaren RH (2010) Twenty-five years of the court of arbitration for sport: a look in the rear-view mirror. Marquette Sports Law Rev 20(2):333Google Scholar
  10. Mitten MJ (2009) Judicial review of olympic and international sports arbitration awards: trends and observations. Pepperdine Dispute Resolut Law J 10(1):65Google Scholar
  11. Mitten MJ, Opie H (2010) Sports Law: implications for the development of international, comparative, and national law and global dispute resolution. Tulane Law Rev 85(2):302Google Scholar
  12. Parrish R (2012) Lex sportiva and EU sports law. Eur Law Rev 37(6):716–733Google Scholar
  13. Ravjani A (2008–2009) The court of arbitration for sport: a subtle form of international delegation. J Int Media Entertain Law 2(2):284Google Scholar
  14. Rodríguez Fernández M (2012) Reconomiento de la lex mercatoria como normativa propia y apropiada para el comercio internacional. Revista e-mercatoria 11(2):45–89Google Scholar
  15. Segan J (2013) Does the court of arbitration for sport need a “Grand Chamber”? Blackstone Chamb Sports Law Bull, 19 April 2013. http://sportslawbulletin.org/2013/04/19/does-the-court-of-arbitration-for-sport-need-a-grand-chamber/ Accessed 26 Jan 2014
  16. Weston MA (2009) Simply a Dress Rehearsal? U.S. Olympic sports arbitration and De Novo review at the court of arbitration for sport. Georgia J Int Comp Law 38:128Google Scholar

Books

  1. Blackaby N, Hunter M, Redfern A (2009) An overview of international arbitration. Redfern and Hunter on International arbitration. Oxford University Press, OxfordCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Born GB (2009) International commercial arbitration. Kluwer Law International, Alphen aan den RijnGoogle Scholar
  3. Born GB (2012) International arbitration: law and practice. Kluwer Law International, LondonGoogle Scholar
  4. Born GB (2013) International arbitration and forum selection agreements: drafting and enforcing. Kluwer Law International, LondonGoogle Scholar
  5. Erbsen A (2006) The Substance and Illusion of Lex Sportiva. In: Blackshaw IS, Siekmann RCR, Soek J (eds) The court of arbitration for sport, 1984–2004. T.M.C Asser Press, The HagueGoogle Scholar
  6. Merryman JH (1969) The civil law tradition: an introduction to the legal systems of Western Europe and Latin America. Stanford University Press, StanfordGoogle Scholar
  7. Waincymer J (2012) Procedure and evidence in international arbitration. Kluwer Law International, Alphen aan den RijnGoogle Scholar

Online document

  1. CAS (2014) Code 2013 edition. http://www.tas-cas.org/statutes Accessed 26 Jan 2014

Cases: Court of arbitration for sport

  1. AEK Athens and SK Slavia Prague vs. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), CAS 98/200Google Scholar
  2. Andrea Anderson and others v. International Olympic Committee (IOC), CAS 2008/A/1545Google Scholar
  3. Boxing Australia v. AIBA, CAS 2008/O/1455Google Scholar
  4. Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Beckie Scott v. International Olympic Committee (IOC), CAS 2002/O/373Google Scholar
  5. Club Atlético Peñarol c. Carlos Heber Bueno Suarez, Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barrotti & Paris Saint-Germain, TAS 2005/A/983&984Google Scholar
  6. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and World Antidoping Agency (Advisory opinion), CAS 2005/C/976 & 986Google Scholar
  7. FC Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) v. Mr. Matuzalem Francelino da Silva (Brazil) & Real Zaragoza SAD (Spain) & FIFA, CAS 2008/A/1519 & 1520Google Scholar
  8. International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) v. USA Track & Field, CAS 2004/A/628Google Scholar
  9. The Gibraltar Football Association (GFA)/Union des Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA), CAS 2002/O/410Google Scholar
  10. Wigan Athletic FC v/Heart of Midlothian, Heart of Midlothian v/Webster & Wigan Athletic FC and Webster v/Heart of Midlothian, CAS 2007/A/1298, 1299 & 1300Google Scholar

Cases: English Courts

  1. Combe v Combe (1951) 2 KB 215, (1951) 1 All ER 767Google Scholar
  2. Cookson v Harewood (1932) 2 K.B. 478, 482Google Scholar
  3. Enderby Town Football Club Ltd. v Football Association Ltd (1971) Ch. 591, (1970) 3 W.L.R. 1021Google Scholar
  4. McInnes v Onslow-Fane and Another (1978) 1 W.L.R. 1520Google Scholar

Cases: Privy Council

  1. Calvin v Carr (1979) 2 W.L.R. 755Google Scholar

Copyright information

© T.M.C. Asser Instituut 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Nottingham Law SchoolNottingham Trent UniversityNottinghamUK

Personalised recommendations