Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal
type: channel
description: Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal (SLPD Journal) is aimed at researchers and practitioners and is dedicated to publishing articles that contribute to theoretical, methodological, and empirical knowledge in the complex field of law, public policy, and diplomacy in the sports system, as well as in other areas of social science focused on sports. Articles may be based on both quantitative and qualitative analyses; they may synthesise previous research; and they may discuss open questions in specific areas of the social sciences. The journal welcomes contributions that focus on different levels of analysis (from individual cases to small or large samples) and contexts (international, supranational, regional, and national levels; in the fields of law, political science, and diplomacy in sport). Each issue may also include an extensive section of book and projects reviews or events (conferences, seminars, summer/winter schools, etc.). The Journal collaborates with the Association for the Study of Sport and the European Union "Sport&EU" and one number of the journal is dedicated to papers presented at the Sport&EU annual conferences. The SLPD journal operates on the Diamond Open Access model, which means that the Journal does not charge author’s processing or publication fees. There are no fees to access the published papers, and authors retain copyright. The Journal is published twice a year (1st number: until September and 2nd number: until December) and uses the digital object identifier (DOI) for each paper as the persistent article identifier (PID). The Journal through its Publisher – University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law is a signatory of the UN SDG Publishers Compact, and it endorses SAGER recommendations. The average number of weeks between article submission & final publication in the full number of the Journal (including all phases of the reviewing, copyright and publication process) for the Vol. 1 – Vol. 3 was 9,2 weeks. Indexed in: - SURF (German Federal In…
publisher: University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law
language: en
publication name: Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal
issn: 2975-6235
items: DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN ESPORTS: IN SEARCH OF A SUPREME COURT FOR ESPORTS
items: THE FAILURE OF THE CJEU AND THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT FOOTBALL CONSUMERS, AND THE NEED FOR A EUROPEAN SPORTS ACT
items: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
items: SPORTS, GENDER, AND DIPLOMACY IN SOCIALIST YUGOSLAVIA
items: MANY A LITTLE MAKES A MICKLE: LESSONS FROM NEGOTIATING ATHLETES’ SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR STRENGTHENING SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN SPORT
items: REGULATING SPORT AFTER SUPERLEAGUE: COMPETITION, GOVERNANCE, AND THE SOCIETAL DIMENSION OF MEDIA RIGHTS IN THE EU AND THE ITALIAN FRAMEWORK
items: THE DUAL MANDATE OF SPORTS AGENTS: A COMPARISON OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
items: SAUDI ARABIA'S STRATEGIC USE OF SPORT IN THE FORGING OF A NEW NATIONAL IDENTITY
items: SOCIAL ANALYSIS IN THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF SPORT
items: WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION IN CASES OF MANIPULATION OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS: FRENCH LEGAL PERSPECTIVES FOLLOWING THE MOTIVACTION PROJECT
items: SPORT FACILITIES AS DRIVERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY AND SUSTAINABILITY
items: DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS POLICY INTHE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
items: THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF SPORTS LAW WITH EMPHASIS ONSPECIFIC ROMAN LAW PROVISIONS
items: A REVIEW OF DOPING IN SPORTS: INDIA AND THE WORLD
items: THE MACCABIAH AS A NEW SPORTS DIPLOMACY INSTRUMENT
items: SPORT POLICY IN ROMANIA
items: AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION’S WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY PROJECT WITH IRAQ: INSPIRING EVERY GIRL IN IRAQ TO PLAY FOOTBALL
items: PLACING ATHLETE RIGHTS AT THE HEART OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN SPORT: LEVERAGING IDEATIONAL POWER, DEMOCRATISING GOVERNANCE
items: DISTRIBUTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE AUTONOMY OF SPORTS IN THE EGYPTIAN LEGAL SYSTEM
items: ‘SPORTING MERIT’ IN EUROPEAN UNION LAW
items: REFUGEES IN EUROPEAN GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL: FROM ASSUMPTIONS TO EVIDENCE
items: CHILDREN AND SPORTS: THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN PLAY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
items: SPORT GOVERNANCE AND EU LAW: THE TIMES THEY ARE (FINALLY !) A-CHANGIN’
items: THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS POLICY IN SLOVAKIA
items: A COMPARISON OF ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO THOSE OF TRADITIONAL SPORTS
items: REFLECTIONS ON THE 2023 SPORT&EU ANNUAL CONFERENCE

DISPUTE RESOLUTION IN ESPORTS: IN SEARCH OF A SUPREME COURT FOR ESPORTS
type: item
description: This paper provides a brief introduction to the current challenges in esports dispute resolution. The introduction to the paper provides a categorization of disputes arising within the industry, classifying them by game type and the relevant legal branches. Subsequently, the authors examine emerging alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods, weighing their respective advantages and disadvantages. The article concludes with de lege ferenda proposals intended to inform legal practice. Finally, it introduces a new dispute resolution body, which was recently established by the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Dispute Resolution
  topic: keywords
subject: Esports
  topic: keywords
subject: Alternative Dispute Resolution
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports Arbitration Tribunal
  topic: keywords
creator: Tomas Gabris
creator: Jozef Greguš
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Tomáš Gábriš, Jozef Greguš https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-07-22
publication date: 2026-07-22
starting page: 29
ending page: 43
doi: 10.30925/

THE FAILURE OF THE CJEU AND THE COMMISSION TO SUPPORT FOOTBALL CONSUMERS, AND THE NEED FOR A EUROPEAN SPORTS ACT
type: item
description: In its rulings on Bosman, Diarra, and the European Super League, the Court of Justice of the European Union has overlooked competition in consumer markets, to the detriment of football fans and small clubs. The European Commission has also been weak in enforcing competition law in football consumer markets. To rectify this, the Commission should apply competition law more rigorously. In the long run, a European Sports Act could further enhance consumer market competition, while also improving the sports ecosystem more broadly.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: European Sports Act
  topic: keywords
subject: Bosman ruling
  topic: keywords
subject: Diarra ruling
  topic: keywords
subject: European Super League ruling
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports law
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports economics
  topic: keywords
creator: Tsjalle van der Burg
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Tsjalle van der Burg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-06-03
publication date: 2026-06-03
starting page: 17
ending page: 27
doi: 10.30925/

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
type: item
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Vanja Smokvina
creator: Richard Parrish
creator: Borja Garcia Garcia
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Vanja Smokvina, Richard Parrish, Borja Garcia Garcia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: III
ending page: III
doi: 10.30925/

SPORTS, GENDER, AND DIPLOMACY IN SOCIALIST YUGOSLAVIA
type: item
description: This article examines the intersection of gender, power, and sport in socialist Yugoslavia from the post-Second World War period through the emergence of self-management, a transformative era across political, social, and cultural spheres. By situating sport within broader ideological, institutional, and diplomatic frameworks, the article highlights how it functioned both as a tool for nation-building and as a site of gendered inequality. Despite formal claims of inclusivity, women’s participation remained constrained, reflecting persistent patriarchal structures in athletic and societal domains. The underrepresentation of women in sport corresponded to their marginalization in diplomatic arenas, as sporting success was leveraged to project Yugoslavia’s international prestige and influence. Drawing on historical institutionalism, this paper illustrates how Yugoslavia’s sport governance structures reproduced gender hierarchies, while also illuminating the socio-political contradictions of socialist modernization. The study integrates structural, cultural, psychological, and policy-related factors to provide an understanding of women’s constrained roles in Yugoslav sport and diplomacy.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports
  topic: keywords
subject: Diplomacy
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender
  topic: keywords
subject: Socialism
  topic: keywords
subject: Women
  topic: keywords
subject: Yugoslavia
  topic: keywords
creator: Silvija Mitevska
creator: Marko Begović
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Silvija Mitevska, Marko Begović https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-05-19
publication date: 2026-05-19
starting page: 1
ending page: 16
doi: 10.30925/4.1.1

MANY A LITTLE MAKES A MICKLE: LESSONS FROM NEGOTIATING ATHLETES’ SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR STRENGTHENING SOCIAL DIALOGUE IN SPORT
type: item
description: The social protection of elite athletes in Olympic sports constitutes a salient human rights issue. This article elucidates the outcomes and processes of a three-year Erasmus+ Sport project (SOPROS) aimed at assessing, evaluating, and implementing athletes’ social protection. The project relied on a participatory methodology and assembled national academic as well as transnational policy partners in its consortium. The aim of this article is to reflect on the three-year process of internal project work and stakeholder consultation in order to derive lessons for strengthening social dialogue and structured negotiation in sport governance. Based on the experiences of the authors in coordinating the project and participating in its negotiation-based formats, as well as on data generated throughout various project activities, we establish a three-dimensional model of preconditions for strengthened social dialogue and meaningful negotiations in sport. As these preconditions are significantly intertwined, positive developments in one area may trigger advances in all other dimensions, thereby enabling new and strengthened forms of collective efforts. We posit that, while narrow in scope and reach, the project and its main learnings may add to the current momentum towards a more equitable governance of sport based on processes of co-determination and social dialogue.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Athlete Rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Dialogue
  topic: keywords
subject: Erasmus+
  topic: keywords
subject: Negotiations
  topic: keywords
subject: Social Protection
  topic: keywords
creator: Maximilian Seltmann
creator: Lorenz Fiege
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Maximilian Seltmann, Lorenz Fiege https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 93
ending page: 116
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.2.5

REGULATING SPORT AFTER SUPERLEAGUE: COMPETITION, GOVERNANCE, AND THE SOCIETAL DIMENSION OF MEDIA RIGHTS IN THE EU AND THE ITALIAN FRAMEWORK
type: item
description: The Superleague judgment marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of EU sports regulation, prompting a renewed examination of how competition law interacts with the governance and societal functions of sport. This article explores the implications of the judgment for the regulatory framework governing sport in Europe and Italy, with particular attention to the treatment of media rights as a vehicle for financing sport’s broader social mission. While media rights represent a crucial source of revenue, their allocation and exploitation cannot be understood solely through the lens of market power or commercial efficiency. Instead, they sit at the intersection of competition law, sporting autonomy, and the principles of solidarity and competitive balance that underpin the European sports model. By integrating EU-level jurisprudence with national regulations, the article argues that the case law provides an opportunity to strengthen a coherent regulatory approach that balances commercialisation with public-interest objectives.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Superleague
  topic: keywords
subject: TV rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Solidarity
  topic: keywords
subject: Collective Selling
  topic: keywords
creator: Andrea Cattaneo
creator: Emanuele Indraccolo
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Andrea Cattaneo, Emanuele Indraccolo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 23
ending page: 41
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.2.3

THE DUAL MANDATE OF SPORTS AGENTS: A COMPARISON OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
type: item
description: The dual mandate of sports agents constitutes a paradigmatic instance of the normative tension between autonomy and systemic unity within the broader legal order governing professional sport. This contribution undertakes a comparative analysis of the regulatory treatment of dual representation under both national and international instruments, with specific reference to the Italian legislative framework (Legislative Decree No. 37/2021 and FIGC Regulations 2025) and the FIFA Football Agent Regulations 2025 (FFAR 2025). The inquiry is premised upon the conception of sports law not as an autonomous or self-contained legal order, but as a specialised sector integrated within the general legal system, characterised by a multi-level structure encompassing state, federal, and international sources. Within this systemic configuration, the Italian model adopts a functional and proportionate approach: dual representation is permissible subject to stringent safeguards of informed consent, disclosure, and conflict-of-interest management. By contrast, the FIFA framework, animated by considerations of transparency and integrity, enshrines a general prohibition on dual mandates, save for narrowly construed exceptions that render its practical application residual. This comparative examination reveals not merely a divergence in regulatory technique but a deeper antinomy between distinct normative rationales. The Italian framework, grounded in private autonomy and proportionality, privileges contractual freedom within a regime of procedural transparency. On the other hand, the FIFA model, conversely, embodies a preventive and prohibitive logic, privileging integrity over autonomy. The coexistence of these divergent paradigms engenders regulatory asymmetry and legal uncertainty, particularly in cross-border transactions that typify the football industry, thereby undermining both market efficiency and systemic coherence. In light of these findings, the paper advocates for a harmonised…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports agents
  topic: keywords
subject: Dual representation
  topic: keywords
subject: Conflict of interest
  topic: keywords
subject: Football Agent Regulations
  topic: keywords
subject: EU sports law harmonisation
  topic: keywords
creator: Simone Landi
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Simone Landi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 15
ending page: 22
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.2.2

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
type: item
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Vanja Smokvina
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Vanja Smokvina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-10-03
publication date: 2025-10-03
doi: 10.30925/

SAUDI ARABIA'S STRATEGIC USE OF SPORT IN THE FORGING OF A NEW NATIONAL IDENTITY
type: item
description: Instability in the Middle East has been on the rise in the first two decades of the century due to the power void created by the American invasion in Iraq, the geopolitical confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Spring. For the Sunni Kingdom, this has meant that the core of the Royal Family’s legitimacy has been in permanent tension, menacing the continuity of the Saudi model and the homogeneity of the Saudi nation. At the same time, the securitarian bond with the West, key for sustaining the Al-Saud grip on power, has eroded as a result of the growing incapacity of Saudi Arabia to fulfill the role of regional stabilizer. In response, the Saudi political elite, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has directed all their efforts on the Saudi Vision 2030, the most recent national development plan that aims to diversify the economic apparatus and shield the Al-Saud legitimacy. This article aims to demonstrate, through a multidimensional lens, how the strategic use of sport under the Vision 2030 programme has been designated by the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a catalyst for the modernizing and nationalist agenda, shaping the new national identity. While the new nationalistic drive of the Saudi Vision 2030 has been covered by several scholars, how sports have been articulated to be useful for this narrative and how they have influenced the fluid and everchanging nature of the Saudi nation remains a void in the literature that this article seeks to partially fill. A constructivist approach, anchored in the theoretical works of Alexander Wendt, is suitable to observe how the strategic use of sport has been leveraged as a platform for the extrapolation of the content of the Saudi nation, presenting itself as a modern, moderate, proud and diverse country in order to alter the identitarian structure with a securitarian ally as the West. Furthermore, the investigation of the extrapolation of this new national identity, a more covered…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Strategic use of sport
  topic: keywords
subject: Saudi Arabia
  topic: keywords
subject: Nation
  topic: keywords
subject: Identity
  topic: keywords
subject: Saudi Vision 2030
  topic: keywords
creator: Lenny Favre
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Lenny Favre https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 43
ending page: 92
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.2.4

SOCIAL ANALYSIS IN THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF SPORT
type: item
description: The range of sport-related topics that become news has considerably expanded over the past few decades, including a notable increase in the coverage of off-field subjects. Yet media coverage tends to focus on a small number of topics, few when compared to the variety of sport-related matters worth attention. The paper explores whether the press coverage of sports reflects the full extent of the sporting phenomenon. More specifically, it assesses the place for social analysis in the media coverage of sport. Sport impacts society in multiple ways. How frequently and in what ways are these impacts covered by the media? A new taxonomy of 21 topics and 131 subtopics of social relevance to media sport was developed for the purposes of this investigation. The new taxonomy, intended for use to examine any type of media, was tested on a sample of Italian print newspapers. Data on the coverage of the social dimension of sport were collected, using the new taxonomy, through the content analysis of 6,501 newspaper pages from five different artificial timeframes and a combined period of 28 days, spanning from September 2018 to April 2020. The sample included both general-interest and sports newspapers, allowing for the additional analysis of coverage differences based on the type of press. Although the importance of the research endeavour was on defining the tool (taxonomy) rather than the results of the test, the analysis of the selected corpus yielded preliminary findings worth sharing on how news media cover the social aspects of sport. The newly developed taxonomy, or matrix, lays the foundations for further research in various directions, including examining the social analysis of sport in digital and audiovisual media, non-daily news reporting, long-form journalism, the local press, citizen journalism, and other journalistic ecosystems.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports journalism
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports
  topic: keywords
subject: Media
  topic: keywords
subject: Social analysis
  topic: keywords
creator: Rosarita Cuccoli
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Rosarita Cuccoli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 53
ending page: 69
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.1.4

WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION IN CASES OF MANIPULATION OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS: FRENCH LEGAL PERSPECTIVES FOLLOWING THE MOTIVACTION PROJECT
type: item
description: Various tools exist to report the manipulation of sports competitions, yet stakeholders still rarely report. This article examines the French legal framework applicable, or partially applicable, to whistleblowers in cases of sports manipulation, focusing on the “Sapin II” Law (Law No. 2016-1691), its 2022 reform (“Waserman” Law No. 2022-401), and sport-specific provisions in the Sports Code, including anti-doping rules. This article proposes legal improvements tailored to the sports ecosystem: extending protection to all sports actors regardless of employment status; designating sports-integrity “facilitators;” creating a unique sports-specific external reporting pathway that clearly covers all integrity issues; strengthening remedies; and clarifying confidentiality and anti-reprisal guarantees. These reforms aim to increase trust and the practical use of reporting channels, thereby strengthening integrity in French sport.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
creator: Clémence Cathelain-Collon
creator: Pim Verschuuren
creator: Jacek Potulski
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Clémence Cathelain-Collon, Pim Verschuuren, Jacek Potulski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2025-12-30
publication date: 2025-12-30
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.2.1

SPORT FACILITIES AS DRIVERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY AND SUSTAINABILITY
type: item
description: As is known, the European Union plays an active part in defining the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Through the 2019 Green Deal, it assigns primary importance to environmental protection, placing sustainability among the pillars of the 2019-2024 and 2021-2027, gathering initiatives on climate change, energy production from renewable sources and transitioning to a zero-emission economy. A crucial role within these objectives shall be attributed to the EPBD. The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EU/2024/1275) entered into force in all EU countries on 28 May 2024 with the goal to increase the rate of renovation in the EU, particularly for the worst-performing buildings in each country. Among the different categories of buildings, sport facilities must be taken into consideration. The EPBD includes sports facilities as part of the buildings covered by its regulations, aiming to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research will analyse these issues. Beginning with the bad practice example set by Italy, it will focus on the long-term infrastructure impact, community engagement, and resource management. These three themes will form the core of the research, examined at the EU level and internationally. From an international perspective, particular attention will be given to the Kazan Action Plan and its aim to link sport policy development to the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. Throughout the research, the conclusion will assess whether the final result of a real environmental legacy can be achieved through better regulation and harmonisation or by extending existing rules on sports facilities. The aim is to explore and better define the importance of regulating the so-called post event use.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sport
  topic: keywords
subject: Facilities
  topic: keywords
subject: EU Law
  topic: keywords
subject: International Law
  topic: keywords
subject: Sustainability
  topic: keywords
subject: Environment
  topic: keywords
subject: Football
  topic: keywords
subject: Stadium
  topic: keywords
creator: Pierludovico Arnese
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Pierludovico Arnese https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 35
ending page: 51
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.1.3

DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS POLICY INTHE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA
type: item
description: In the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, physical culture was an integral part of cultural and social policies, dominantly structured, planned, and implemented by the public sector and closely aligned with the sports movement. With the decline of former Yugoslavia and the self-management system, North Macedonia aimed to develop a more autonomous sports system, transitioning from the interventionist model of organizing and financing sports (a model found in most post-socialist social systems) to a non-interventionist model (a model found in the classic capitalist social systems of Great Britain and the United States of America). This was perceived as an excellent opportunity for redefinition and improvement in all its segments: games, results, structure, and management. That said, this paper aims to provide an overview of the key phases of sports policy development.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Republic of North Macedonia
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports law
  topic: keywords
subject: Macedonian sport
  topic: keywords
subject: Legal status
  topic: keywords
creator: Ivan Anastasovski
creator: Marko Begović
creator: Lazar Nanev
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Ivan Anastasovski, Marko Begović, Lazar Nanev https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 15
ending page: 33
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.1.2

THEORETICAL OVERVIEW OF SPORTS LAW WITH EMPHASIS ONSPECIFIC ROMAN LAW PROVISIONS
type: item
description: This work aims to elaborate on examples of legal provisions regarding sport activities in ancient Rome, due to the scarcity of literature in this domain. The analysis is focused on various institutes related to sports activities, liability, gambling, and privileges of athletes (reparatio damni, culpa, pecunium ludere, excusationes voluntariae) found in Justinian’s Digest and the Codex. Provisions from Byzantine legal sources, including the Codex Theodosianus, are also examined. A comparison between the quod bonum et aequum principle and the contemporary fair play is included. The applied methods include normative, comparative, and historical. Several conclusions are articulated concerning the importance of the Roman law framework for modern sports law challenges within the European legal context.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Roman law
  topic: keywords
subject: History of Sports Law
  topic: keywords
subject: Justinian’s Legislation
  topic: keywords
subject: Lex Sportiva
  topic: keywords
creator: Goce Naumovski
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Goce Naumovski https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-10-03
publication date: 2025-10-03
starting page: 1
ending page: 13
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.1.1

A REVIEW OF DOPING IN SPORTS: INDIA AND THE WORLD
type: item
description: Doping is a critical facet within the realm of competitive sports that have garnered substantial attention from athletes, researchers, and sports organizations alike. This research paper delves into the intricate relationship between doping and sports injuries, examining the legal and ethical challenges arising from their interplay. The objective is to critically analyze the multifaceted dimensions of this complex issue and provide insights into potential legal frameworks and ethical considerations. The paper begins by briefly exploring the prevalence and consequences of sports injuries, highlighting their impact on athletes' physical well-being, career prospects, and overall societal perception of sports. It further investigates the factors contributing to these injuries, including the role of intense competition, inadequate safety measures, and technological advancements that push athletes to their limits. Next, the paper shifts its focus to doping in sports, investigating the various forms of performance-enhancing substances and methods employed by athletes. It examines the ethical implications of doping, such as the unfair advantage it creates, potential harm to athletes' health, and the erosion of the fundamental principles of fair play and sportsmanship. The research then delves into the existing legal framework governing sports injuries and doping. It critically analyzes international regulations and national laws, emphasizing the challenges faced in effectively enforcing anti-doping measures and ensuring athlete safety. Moreover, it explores the role of sports governing bodies, athletes' unions, and the judiciary in addressing these issues. Furthermore, the paper highlights key cases and legal disputes related to sports injuries and doping, discussing their implications for athletes, sports organizations, and legal systems. It examines the principles of liability and accountability, considering the responsibilities of athletes, coaches, medical personnel, an…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports injuries
  topic: keywords
subject: Doping
  topic: keywords
subject: Athlete
  topic: keywords
subject: Fair play
  topic: keywords
subject: Ethical challenges
  topic: keywords
creator: Atul Pal
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Atul Pal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2025-09-30
publication date: 2025-09-30
starting page: 71
ending page: 88
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.3.1.5

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
type: item
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Vanja Smokvina
creator: Richard Parrish
creator: Borja Garcia Garcia
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Vanja Smokvina; Richard Parrish, Borja Garcia Garcia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: III
ending page: III

THE MACCABIAH AS A NEW SPORTS DIPLOMACY INSTRUMENT
type: item
description: This article examines the Maccabiah Games as a unique case study of new sports diplomacy, analyzing how this non-state sporting event functions as a significant soft power resource for Israel, while operating largely independently of state control and financing. Through analysis of historical documents, legislative frameworks, and policy decisions, we investigate the complex relationship between the Israeli state and the Maccabiah Games, which has evolved since its inception in 1932. We argue that while the Games serve as Israel’s primary sporting diplomatic vehicle and enhance its international image, they operate primarily through private and civic networks rather than state direction or consistent financial support. This creates an interesting paradox: the Games’ independence from state control allows the sports community to maintain autonomy in pursuing its goals, yet this same independence results in minimal state investment, shifting the financial burden onto participants and the Jewish sports community. Despite the Games’ significance in promoting Jewish immigration and strengthening ties with the diaspora, Israel lacks a coherent legal framework or consistent funding mechanism for this quadrennial Olympic competition. While state officials regularly participate in ceremonial aspects and leverage the Games for public diplomacy, concrete institutional support remains limited. This situation reflects both Israel’s broader underinvestment in sports infrastructure and its tendency to prioritize hard power over soft power resources. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of new sports diplomacy by demonstrating how non-state actors can successfully operate major international sporting events that serve national diplomatic purposes, even without substantial state support. The Maccabiah case illustrates the evolving nature of sports diplomacy, where traditional state-centered approaches are increasingly complemented or replaced by more independent,…
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: The Maccabiah Games
  topic: keywords
subject: Jewish Olympics
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports Diplomacy
  topic: keywords
subject: New Sports Diplomacy
  topic: keywords
subject: Mega-Event
  topic: keywords
subject: Israel
  topic: keywords
creator: Sophia Solomon
creator: Sharon Pardo
creator: Hila Zahavi
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sophia Solomon, Sharon Pardo, Hila Zahavi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 73
ending page: 92
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.2.4

SPORT POLICY IN ROMANIA
type: item
description: The article provides an overview of the development of the sport ecosystem and sport-related policies in Romania. It represents the first venture to understand dynamics associated with historical evolution, and despite Romania’s EU membership, it struggles to implement numerous needed reforms resulting in stagnation rooted in institutional memory. Following the presentation of historical development, the paper is structured to describe major institutional actors, including those from the public sector and sport movement, as well as their interrelationship including the major trends discussed. The added value of this paper represents a collaborative partnership incorporating both insider and outsider perspectives to offer a comprehensive understanding and presentation of the development of sport policy in Romania. In conclusion, Romanian sports remain strongly shaped by the strong institutional memory developed during the communist era.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Romania
  topic: keywords
subject: Sport ecosystem
  topic: keywords
subject: Communism
  topic: keywords
subject: Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Governance
  topic: keywords
creator: Andrei Antonie
creator: Marko Begovic
creator: Simona Petracovschi
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Andrei Antonie, Marko Begovic, Simona Petracovschi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 17
ending page: 35
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.2.2

AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE FRENCH FOOTBALL FEDERATION’S WOMEN’S FOOTBALL DIPLOMACY PROJECT WITH IRAQ: INSPIRING EVERY GIRL IN IRAQ TO PLAY FOOTBALL
type: item
description: This article examines the French Football Federation’s women’s football diplomacy initiative with Iraq as an example of a type of integrative sports diplomacy that empowers the sports world, and those they serve, in new ways. The effort, driven by a non-state sporting actor with support from the French state via its Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs’ sports diplomacy approach, demonstrated sports diplomacy’s short-term “wins” like changing people’s minds, cultural engagement, and sharing technical expertise through sports, creating the possibility of new opportunities, and offering different incentives for the sports world to engage.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports Diplomacy
  topic: keywords
subject: Football
  topic: keywords
subject: France
  topic: keywords
subject: Iraq
  topic: keywords
subject: Federations
  topic: keywords
subject: Women’s Football Diplomacy
  topic: keywords
creator: Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff
creator: Daniel G. Kelly
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, Daniel G. Kelly II https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 1
ending page: 15
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.2.1

PLACING ATHLETE RIGHTS AT THE HEART OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN SPORT: LEVERAGING IDEATIONAL POWER, DEMOCRATISING GOVERNANCE
type: item
description: “Good governance” and “athlete rights” are two central ideas in today’s governance of sport. A multitude of actors from different horizontal and vertical governance levels shape the discourse surrounding these ideas. Following Vivien Schmidt’s seminal work on discursive institutionalism, we analyse the ideational power of the two ideas and the characteristics of their underlying discourses within the context of international sport governance. Our analysis highlights that several similarities between the ideas and their related discourses prevail. Yet, the two discourses exist, for most parts, separately with no systematic conceptual connection between the two ideas. Informed by an analysis of academic literature and policy documents within and beyond the area of sport governance, we argue that this is a conceptual shortcoming, which fails to capitalise on the power resting in each idea and, more importantly, in their combination. We suggest that a systematic merger of the two discourses in terms of the adoption of a rights-based approach to good governance may not only democratise the good governance discourse and better justify its widespread normative notion, but that it may also enhance the ideational power of athlete rights and, in practice, become a key to rights implementation for the benefit of athletes.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Athlete rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Good governance
  topic: keywords
subject: Discursive institutionalism
  topic: keywords
subject: Democratic governance
  topic: keywords
subject: Sport policy
  topic: keywords
creator: Maximilian Seltmann
creator: Lorenz Fiege
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Maximilian Seltmann, Lorenz Fiege https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-31
publication date: 2024-12-31
starting page: 37
ending page: 71
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.2.3

DISTRIBUTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE AUTONOMY OF SPORTS IN THE EGYPTIAN LEGAL SYSTEM
type: item
description: This paper presents a descriptive and analytical examination of the elements of sports independence in the Egyptian legal system. It includes the texts of legal articles that address the elements of sports independence, such as the competence of general assemblies of sports bodies to set their regulations, texts ensuring non-interference of government agencies in the affairs of sports bodies (except for what relates to governance, financial corruption, and crimes), and texts resorting to sports arbitration rather than the state judiciary. Furthermore, the paper also focuses on articles of the unified financial regulations that were issued to implement the elements of sports bodies’ governance in the absence of these elements in sports law. The analysis includes rulings of various judicial bodies in the Egyptian system by presenting landmark decisions in selected cases. The analysis of rulings issued by the Egyptian State Council (Administrative Judiciary), the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Cassation, as well as the rulings of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court is introduced. It comprises a ruling on the unconstitutionality of part of Article 69 of the Sports Law related to the Egyptian Olympic Committee setting the regulatory frameworks for the Egyptian Sports Settlement and Arbitration Center, leading to the fall of the center’s regulatory frameworks. Additionally, the ruling of the Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court on a jurisdictional conflict is discussed including the previous ruling on the unconstitutionality of the text (Article 69) deeming the Sports Arbitration Center non-existent and calling for a legislative amendment to resolve the matter.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Autonomy of sport in Egypt
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports arbitration in Egypt
  topic: keywords
subject: Legal regulation of sports in Egypt
  topic: keywords
subject: Position of the Egyptian judiciary on sports arbitration
  topic: keywords
creator: Ahmed Saad Mohamed Hussein
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Ahmed Saad Mohamed Hussein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-12-30
publication date: 2024-12-30
starting page: 93
ending page: 128
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.2.5

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
type: item
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Vanja Smokvina
creator: Borja Garcia Garcia
creator: Richard Parrish
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Vanja Smokvina, Borja Garcia Garcia, Richard Parrish https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: III
ending page: III

‘SPORTING MERIT’ IN EUROPEAN UNION LAW
type: item
description: ‘Sporting merit’ played a central role in the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in European Super League Company and Royal Antwerp, However, the concept has been undertheorised, and its role in the so-called ‘European sport model’ (‘ESM’) has been understudied. This article seeks to address this literature gap by understanding both the meaning and role of ‘sporting merit’ in EU law. It begins by analysing the Court’s use of ‘sporting merit’ in its recent case law, arguing that the concept has become a cornerstone of the ESM. It then attempts to conceptualise ‘sporting merit,’ arguing that there are two possible ways to define this concept: a ‘static’ one, which prioritises the reward of immediate sporting achievements; and a ‘dynamic’ one, which places a greater emphasis on the promotion of long-term competitive balance. To understand the respective implications of these definitions, this article then explores how sporting merit is approached in both Europe and the USA. It argues that, whereas the ESM places a greater emphasis on the ‘static’ understanding of sporting merit, its North American counterpart embraces a ‘dynamic’ approach thereto, for example through financial redistribution and through sport-related corrective mechanisms such as draft systems. Building on the above, this article queries whether – and if so how – such corrective mechanisms could be incorporated into the ESM; whether doing so would lead to a more coherent approach to the promotion of ‘sporting merit,’ and whether it would be more in line with Article 165 TFEU.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: EU Law
  topic: keywords
subject: EU Sport Law
  topic: keywords
subject: Sporting Merit
  topic: keywords
subject: Competitive Balance
  topic: keywords
subject: European Sport Model
  topic: keywords
subject: North American Sport Model
  topic: keywords
creator: Guillermo Íñiguez
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Guillermo Íñiguez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 83
ending page: 106
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.5

REFUGEES IN EUROPEAN GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL: FROM ASSUMPTIONS TO EVIDENCE
type: item
description: Since 2015-2016, when the European continent underwent an unprecedented peak in demands for asylum, grassroots football clubs have been at the forefront in offering refugees a place of first contact with their new host society. The perception of the impact that their initiatives may have had on their target population is however almost exclusively based on some widely shared basic assumptions drawn from anecdotal evidence and, marginally, on a small body of literature grounded in local studies of ethnographic nature. The article recapitulates the inception and implementation of an original mixed-method research survey within the framework of two successive practice-oriented projects led by civil society actors and supported by the ERASMUS+ Sport funding scheme. Following a literature review, it describes the survey design, analyses the findings, and discusses the added value and limits of this research focused on the principal target group of volunteers in European grassroots football.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Grassroots Football
  topic: keywords
subject: Volunteers
  topic: keywords
subject: Migration
  topic: keywords
subject: Refugees
  topic: keywords
subject: Asylum Seekers
  topic: keywords
subject: Integration
  topic: keywords
subject: Inclusion
  topic: keywords
creator: Derya Göçer
creator: Özgehan Şenyuva
creator: Albrecht Sonntag
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Albrecht Sonntag, Derya Göçer, Özgehan Şenyuva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 19
ending page: 43
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.2

CHILDREN AND SPORTS: THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN PLAY AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
type: item
description: Every child has the right to play. Sports, therefore, play a valuable role in children’s development and growth. Starting from Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, numerous other international, supranational, and national legal sources define children’s right to play sports with the purpose of developing their whole personality. Indeed, sports allow children to engage in the exercise necessary for correct psychophysical development; improve children’s social inclusion, and aim to offer equal opportunities to all children in promoting their social life. The right to engage in play and recreational activities is an important right of every child, which must be exercised taking into account the right to health, as well as the possibility to rest and the choice “not to become a champion at all costs,” likewise other important children’s rights that will be analysed in the paper. It will also reflect on the moment when recreational sports turn into competitive sports, where competitive dynamics make the appreciation of the protection of children’s rights much more complex. Considering the central role played by parents and trainers in ensuring that children practice sports in a manner most appropriate to their balanced psycho-physical development, the best interests of child will be considered in relation to the abovementioned demanding dynamics of competitive sport. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether fundamental rights are respected in sports activities involving children, trying to raise awareness of the position of minor athletes in the world of sports since they are particularly vulnerable and in need of protection.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sport
  topic: keywords
subject: Children's Rights
  topic: keywords
subject: Right to Engage in Play and Recreational Activities
  topic: keywords
subject: Best Interests of the Child
  topic: keywords
subject: Parental Responsibility
  topic: keywords
creator: Sandra Winkler
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sandra Winkler https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 67
ending page: 82
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.4

SPORT GOVERNANCE AND EU LAW: THE TIMES THEY ARE (FINALLY !) A-CHANGIN’
type: item
description: The Times They Are A-Changin': At last, change is a reality for sport governance in Europe, due to the resolute approach of the CJEU in recent high-profile "sport" cases. This article highlights key points from the three judgments of 21 December, 2023 and underlines some of the cardinal points of ongoing cases related to EU law applied to sport, and, particularly in sport governance. In short, through the orthodox enforcement of competition law and fundamental freedoms (and likely also fundamental rights in the near future), the CJEU imposes a strong democratic control on sports regulators. National courts - recentred of the game by the ISU ruling and guided by the Antwerp ruling - have the task of making this control fully effective. In short, no more "sports washing."
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: EU Law Applied to Sport
  topic: keywords
subject: CJEU Recent Case Law
  topic: keywords
subject: Ongoing EU Law Cases
  topic: keywords
subject: Principle of Effective Jurisdictional Protection in Sport
  topic: keywords
creator: Jean-Louis Dupont
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Jean-Louis DUPONT https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 1
ending page: 17
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.1

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPORTS POLICY IN SLOVAKIA
type: item
description: The article provides the first overview of the sports ecosystem and the development of sports policy in Slovakia. It reviews how sports policy has evolved across different periods and under varying political structures. The paper is organized around specific policy areas, linking the historical overview, major sports actors, and main strategic directions into a cohesive structure. In addition, major trends and challenges are discussed. The funding scheme will be elaborated thoroughly as it represents both a complex process and a contribution to the uniqueness of the sports ecosystem in Slovakia. The concluding remarks indicate a lack of coordination at the horizontal level within the public sector and in efforts to coordinate with the sub-national level in utilizing available resources for the development of sports in Slovakia.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Sports
  topic: keywords
subject: Policy
  topic: keywords
subject: Slovakia
  topic: keywords
subject: Public Authorities
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports Organisations
  topic: keywords
creator: Michal Varmus
creator: Marko Begovic
creator: Martin Mičiak
creator: Michal Šarlák
creator: Milan Kubina
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Michal Varmus, Marko Begovic, Martin Mičiak, Michal Šarlák, Milan Kubina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 107
ending page: 133
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.6

A COMPARISON OF ESPORTS INTEGRITY POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO THOSE OF TRADITIONAL SPORTS
type: item
description: The esports landscape is quite different from traditional sports. However, both aim to protect the integrity of their sports and have put integrity policies and programs in place. This article analyses integrity policies and programs in esports and draws a comparison to traditional sports to the extent possible. In this respect, competition manipulation and doping have been identified as the most comparable integrity threats.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Esports
  topic: keywords
subject: Traditional sports
  topic: keywords
subject: Integrity
  topic: keywords
subject: Anti-Corruption
  topic: keywords
subject: Best Practices
  topic: keywords
creator: Erika Riedl
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Erika Riedl https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2024-08-02
publication date: 2024-08-02
starting page: 45
ending page: 66
doi: 10.30925/slpdj.2.1.3

EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION
type: item
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
creator: Vanja Smokvina
creator: Borja Garcia Garcia
creator: Richard Parrish
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Vanja Smokvina; Borja Garcia Garcia, Richard Parrish https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-19
publication date: 2023-12-19
starting page: III
ending page: III

REFLECTIONS ON THE 2023 SPORT&EU ANNUAL CONFERENCE
type: item
subject: Information and Events
  topic: section
creator: Borja Garcia Garcia
rights: Copyright (c) 2023 Borja Garcia Garcia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
date: 2023-12-20
publication date: 2023-12-20
starting page: 123
ending page: 124