CJEU: "Sports governing bodies are limited in their self-regulation" (Nicholas Emiliou)

"Sports governing bodies are limited in their self-regulation if there is a significant impact on matters governed by EU law," states a communication from the Court of Justice of the European Union relaying the conclusions of Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou published on 15/05/2025.

The Cypriot judge gave his opinion in the context of three references for preliminary rulings from separate cases which, however, "raise further important questions" and to which he therefore replied at the same time. In two of these cases, it is the FIFA regulations on the activities of agents that are at issue, while in the third, the disputed text is an agreement between the Portuguese clubs (1^st and 2^nd division) and their Federation.

"The present cases raise further important questions regarding the autonomy of both national and international sports governing bodies, and the extent to which the regulations adopted by such bodies must comply with EU competition, internal market and data protection rules," explained the CJEU.

"Advocate General Emiliou then proposes that the Court should find that EU…