SPORTS REGULATORY BODIES
All sports have rules, and rules means enforcement. Even amateur or youth sport decisions can sometimes create such a sense of injustice that the participants seek legal representation; the expense is rarely proportionate, but we may be able to assist preparation for self-representation at a short consultation.
Professional sports-people and clubs, on the other hand, can face proceedings which carry substantial financial consequences, and for such cases only the best will do. We provide the best, not necessarily at the greatest expense. Please see our section on ADVOCACY. Some agents and “sports-lawyers” are charismatic, and think their reputation and experience enable them to go personally to tribunals and conduct hearings. We, on the other hand, believe that specialist experienced advocates need to be carefully selected from a wider pool, and that an independent judgment can highlight difficulties and dangers from a summary of the facts prepared by us. This is an area calling for the greatest skill and experience – please arrange for an appointment to speak with Nigel Shepherd.
Sports governing authorities are not State Law, but membership or continued involvement in the sport pre-supposes acceptance of the decisions of the relevant authorities under the Rule book. ** In rare cases of an authority exceeding its powers or acting unreasonably, we can take proceedings in Court to correct the error. **
SOME INTERESTING RECENT CASES:-
Others
Professional
“FA” – Football Association. – http://www.thefa.com
Professional clubs will have “in house” or retained advisers, since time limits for responding to disciplinary issues are short (eg next working day). Appeals are heard by a “Regulatory Commission” empanelled by the Football Association and operating under Rule 4(e). Most decisions of the Regulatory Commission are final, with no internal appeals (FADiscProc11-12f)
“RFU” – Rugby Football Union. – http://www.englandrugby.com/about-the-rfu/
“WRU” – Welsh Rugby Union. – http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/thewru/regulations/index.php
“RFL” – Rugby Football League. – http://www.therfl.co.uk/
“ECB” – England and Wales Cricket Board. – http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/
Badminton National Governing Body – http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk/homepage.asp
Basketball England http://www.englandbasketball.co.uk/
(with apologies if your sport is not listed)
INTERNATIONAL
Federations of Olympic Summer Games
FINA (Aquatic Sports) http://www.fina.org/
FITA (Archery) http://www.archery.org/
IAAF (Athletics) http://www.iaaf.org/
BWF (Badminton) http://www.bwfbadminton.org/
FIBA (Basketball) http://www.fiba.com/
AIBA International Boxing Association http://aiba.org/
ICF (Canoeing) http://www.canoeicf.com/
Others (via Wikipaedia links)
UCI (Cycling) • FEI (Equestrianism) • FIE (Fencing) • FIFA (Football) • IGF (Golf) • IFG (Gymnastics) • IHF (Handball) • FIH (Field hockey) • IJF (Judo) • UIPM (Modern pentathlon) • FISA (Rowing) • IRB (Rugby union) • ISAF (Sailing) • ISSF (Shooting) • ITTF (Table tennis) • WTF (Taekwondo) • ITF (Tennis) • ITU (Triathlon) • FIVB (Volleyball) • IWF (Weightlifting) • FILA (Wrestling)
Federations of Olympic Winter Games
IBU (Biathlon) • FIBT (Bobsleigh & Skeleton) • WCF (Curling) • IIHF (Ice hockey) • ISU (Skating Sports) • FIL (Luge)
FIS (Skiing Sports) http://www.fis-ski.com/
