Carol Couse’s Post

Starting off this week with an appearance on the Westminster Media Forum Policy Conference: Next steps for football governance and implementation of an independent regulator in England. I'll be discussing stakeholder views on priorities for football governance going forward including the potential for a licensing system, options for fan engagement in decision-making processes, intervention in revenue distribution, the future of parachute payments, and the legal challenges that these might pose for clubs, owners, and the nascent regulator itself.

🚨New publication🚨 This research investigated player selection in football, seeking to identify what philosophies coaches use during such processes and whether they act upon these beliefs. Download a copy on the link below.

Tomorrow, I will moderate this incredible panel on Sports Arbitration in the Caribbean and Latin America as part of the BVI Arbitration Week! Registrations are open. All are invited! #arbitration #sportsarbitration

Ahead of tomorrow's Fair Game UK annual conference at AFC Wimbledon's stadium, we've put together a short pack explaining how LCP can help football clubs, owners, investors, governing bodies and other stakeholders in the areas of football finance and governance. Key elements of our service offering include: ⚽ In depth financial analysis of individual / multiple clubs or leagues, including transaction support  ⚽ Financial scenario analysis to assist in planning and risk management ⚽ Communicating the “financial story” to fans, potential investors or other stakeholders  ⚽ Supporting good governance and  compliance with regulatory requirements I'll be attending the Fair Game UK conference tomorrow along with LCP colleagues John Parnis England and Ashley Mould, and DEI expert Buki Mosaku. If you're at the conference, please come and say hello to us! During the Speed Meetings session at lunchtime, I will be focusing in particular on the Owners' and Directors' Test (OADT) . In this regard, two of my colleagues in our Financial Analysis team, Jonathan Wolff and Tom Gillespie, recently looked at what a more effective revamped OADT might look like under the new Independent Football Regulator - and how this could be a real gamechanger for the sustainability of English men's professional football. Their article is here: https://lnkd.in/educf5kk More details on the Fair Game UK conference can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ePsisebK #fairgameuk #financialsustainability #footballgovernance

Our latest C&RR Edition 2023/5 is out ! The Editorial of this issue concerns application of antitrust rules to International and European football organizations and especially application of Article 102 of TFEU on abuse of dominance. 👉 Follow the link to read the issue: https://bit.ly/3uB4x4v #KLC #Competition #Regulation #antitrust

We would like to make you aware of our support to Loughborough University, who is conducting crucial research on the commercial representation of football talent by football agents. We welcome the high-level expertise of Dr. Serhat Yilmaz and his team in leading this initiative.   EFAA recognizes the value of having clear data that demonstrates the diversity of agent services and highlights the need for proper regulation of various aspects of agency work. This foundation is essential for managing football players' careers beyond their activities on the pitch. We support the aim to conceptualize commercial representation and advance this activity in the football market. Through qualitative interviews with agents and experts, Loughborough has developed a conceptual framework. Now, your perspectives are needed to refine and finalize this framework into a practical toolkit for agents’ day-to-day business and proper representation in the football industry.   A survey has been designed based on a conceptual model, and it is now live! Your participation will help us capture empirical data crucial for refining this model. To complete the survey please follow the link below.   Please distribute the survey within your own network to ensure wide participation. Your insights are invaluable in advancing our collective goals.   Thank you for your support and participation.  https://lnkd.in/griX6sQU  

Transforming European football: Jean-Louis Dupont's potential milestone in sports law As the European Court of Justice (CJEU) prepares to deliver a potentially game-changing verdict on the European Super League case this Thursday, all eyes are on Jean-Louis Dupont. 1. Who is Jean-Louis Dupont and why is he significant in European sports law? Jean-Louis Dupont, a seasoned Belgian lawyer, has been a pivotal figure in EU sports law for over three decades. His notable contributions include the landmark Bosman ruling and challenging UEFA's monopoly, profoundly influencing football's socio-economic landscape. 2. What is the European Super League case about? The case involves Dupont's client, A22 Sports Management, a company backing the European Super League, challenging FIFA and UEFA's role as sole football regulators and competition organizers. This lawsuit could redefine football's commercial and regulatory frameworks. 3. What impact did the Bosman ruling have on football? The Bosman ruling, a seminal case led by Dupont, abolished transfer fees for out-of-contract players and lifted restrictions on non-domestic European players in clubs. This decision significantly liberalized football's labor market, altering player salaries, club finances, and the sport's overall commercial structure. 4. How has Dupont's career evolved over the years? Initially intertwining his legal career with a position at the European Commission, Dupont's success in the Bosman case pivoted his focus to sports law. He has since been instrumental in cases challenging sports federations' decisions, and has been a key figure in debates over football's regulation and economic model. 🔗 Learn more: This decision could mark a historic moment in football, echoing Dupont's legacy of challenging the status quo and advocating for competitive fairness in sports. #SportsBusiness #Football #SportsBiz #Finance #SportsLaw #FootballLaw #Intelligence #Investment

The Football Governance Bill, that was introduced to Parliament last week, is set to implement historic reforms for the governance of men’s professional football clubs in England In our latest article, we consider how we got here, and the possible implications of the Independent Football Regulator on the sport Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gemP7btK ⚽ ⚽ ⚽ Nick Phillips | Magnus Yadi | Khush Kotecha | Jessica Rodger #independentregulator #sportslaw #AllenOverySport

📢 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 ⚽ The historic Football Governance Bill was introduced in Parliament on Tuesday 19 March 2024, the beginning of the process before it is made law. The legislation is part of the UK Government's plans to establish an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and will grant powers to an IFR to oversee the top 5 divisions of men's football in England. The calls for an IFR gathered momentum after the demise of Bury FC in 2019 and in response to the short-lived proposal in 2021 of a European Super League. The main objectives stated in section 6 of the Bill are to: (i) protect and promote the financial soundness of regulated clubs; (ii) protect and promote the systemic financial resilience of English football; and (iii) safeguard the heritage of English football. The announcement by Parliament on Tuesday was timely – it was just a day after the English Premier League announced an immediate 4-point penalty against Nottingham Forest Football Club for breaching profit and sustainability rules. This scenario has become all too familiar in recent years, particularly this season. It remains to be seen how an IFR would operate in practice, what the scope of its jurisdiction ultimately is and just how effective it would be. Follow the link below to track its progress through Parliament and access a PDF copy of the Bill (health warning: it is 130 pages long!) 📖⬇ Ward Hadaway Philip Edmondson #football #epl #englishpremierleague #efl #englishfootballleague #footballlaw #sportslaw #footballgovernancebill #independentfootballregulator #IFR https://lnkd.in/eHzfygHh