Research Handbook on the Law of Professional Football Clubs

‘This Research Handbook offers a thoughtful and systematic analysis of the most relevant issues surrounding professional football clubs’ law and governance. It is a timely and original work, which will enable academics, professionals and students to approach a wide range of topics from a multidisciplinary group of leading scholars and practitioners.’ – Carmen Pérez González, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain‘Football law involves increasingly complex considerations. This legal handbook reflects the challenges of a legal nature that arise as a result of the commercialization and internationalization of professional football and is a must-read for football lawyers and others involved in the football industry.’ – Espen Auberg, formerly Head of Legal at the Norwegian FA and Attorney-at-Law, Advokatfirmaet NOVA DA, Oslo, Norway‘With three cases pending before the Court of Justice of the EU in 2023, professional football’s governance confronts a perfect storm. The judges can pave the way for reform of football’s governance. This book and its editor deserve praise for their approach, highlighting the importance of the law for professional football and clubs in particular, and inspiring critical thinking.’ – Jean-Louis Dupont, Lawyer and Member of the Barcelona Bar, Dupont-Hissel, Spain‘This book is a must have for all those interested in football and the law. It covers all material aspects relevant to professional football clubs. Importantly, it critically assesses professional football’s governance and elucidates its complex relationship with the EU rule of law, whilst at the same time providing food for thought on what sustainable professional football for the future could look like.’ – José Ángel Sánchez, Chief Executive Officer, Real Madrid, Spain‘This Handbook, which focuses on the Law of Professional Football Clubs, features contributions from leading experts on various aspects of professional football, including organization, licensing, financial fair play, finances, players and compliance, corporate social responsibility, and dispute resolution. As we approach a crucial year for the future of European football, it is important to consider these topics from different academic perspectives.’ – Sergio González García, University Rey Juan Carlos, Spain

Edited by Robby Houben, Professor of Sports Enterprise Law, Faculty of Law, University of Antwerp, Belgium.