Istanbul stages first UEFA football law session

UEFA has been praised for the introduction of a new programme that is helping members of the football family working in the legal sector learn and understand new developments in football law.

The UEFA Football Law Programme's first session has taken place at the Kadir Has University in Istanbul, and was attended by 24 participants. The programme ensures that UEFA member associations and other football stakeholders are aware of the legal stakes involved in the modern game and are fully equipped to handle them appropriately.

Topics on the Istanbul agenda included an introduction to UEFA and FIFA structures, rules and regulations; the work of football stakeholders such as the European Club Association (ECA) and the players' union FIFPro; the relationship between football law and state law; and European Union law and sport.

UEFA's new law programme comprises four week-long sessions over a 12-month period. The four sessions cover an introduction to football law, FIFA transfer regulations, other football rules and regulations, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and its procedures. The programme has been developed and is run by UEFA, in close collaboration with internationally-renowned academic experts and practitioners.

Participants in the programme must work in a UEFA member association's legal department, hold a legal position in a football club, players' union or league, or work in a law firm that deals with football cases.

Further sessions will take place at the University of Padova, Italy (January 2016), Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid (April 2016) and at UEFA (September 2016).

Positive views on the UEFA Football Law Programme

"We believe that education is of crucial importance – especially in the football industry… Like UEFA, we believe that football law is an essential part of this ever-expanding system and that excellence is required in this discipline, especially at elite level, in order to prevent the wasting of money, time and effort. As the lead partner of the UEFA Football Law Programme, we can now convey our thoughts on the importance of education to many more people – to associations, clubs and their stakeholders across the world of football."
Levent Bıçakcı, UEFA Football Law Programme Istanbul session director, UEFA Appeals Body member and member of the Kadir Has University board of trustees

"The UEFA Football Law Programme is all about what I am doing day after day; it's all about my work. It is a unique opportunity to get exposed to content which will help me in my professional life. Every day, I receive many requests. In order to answer to these requests with confidence, you need to have a good knowledge of the background. I think the UEFA Football Law Programme will be a very good support for my legal background."
João Leal, Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) legal director