On 21 December 2023, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a trilogy of judgements with profound implications for both sports law and free movement and competition law.
In Case C-124/21 P - International Skating Union, the Court found that the rules of ISU on the prior authorisation of skating competitions infringe EU law. A similar conclusion was reached in Case C-333/21 - European Superleague Company, where the Court determined that FIFA and UEFA rules on prior approval of interclub football competitions, such as the Super League, are contrary to EU law. Finally, in Case C-680/21 - Royal Antwerp Football Club, the Court declared that the rules of UEFA and the Belgian Football Association on ‘home-grown players’ could be contrary to EU law. The three judgements were delivered on the same day and had the same judge rapporteur. Unsurprisingly, they are cross-referential and must be read accordingly.
To help us navigate these landmark decisions, the European Union Law and Competition Law Working Groups are delighted to host two expert discussants: José Luís da Cruz Vilaça, former Advocate General, President of the Court of First Instance, and Judge of Court of Justice; and Jean-Louis Dupont, one of Europe’s most influential euro-lawyers, having represented the likes of Jean-Marc Bosman in the historical Bosman case, as well as David Meca-Medina and Igor Majcen in the landmark Meca-Medina and Majcen case. Both speakers intervened in the European Superleague Company procedure, Dr. Cruz Vilaça as Agent of the Portuguese Republic and Maître Dupont as lawyer for European Superleague Company SL. Jean-Louis Dupont also acted as lawyer in the Royal Antwerp Football Club case.
The European Union Law Working Group is a forum where EUI members, external researchers, and practitioners working on European Union law discuss their work and interact with other scholars. All interested fellows, PhD researchers, professors and visiting academics are invited to participate.
The Competition Law Working Group is a forum where EUI members, external researchers, and practitioners working on antitrust law and economics discuss their work and interact with other scholars. All interested fellows, PhD researchers, professors and visiting academics are invited to participate.