Professional football clubs and agents in Germany are coming under increasing scrutiny as a result of a forthcoming important package of anti-money laundering legal measures under the European Union (EU) Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR). In fact, German professional football clubs and agents officially become "obliged entities"
Professional football involves substantial cross-border financial flows, including club investments, acquisitions, player transfers, agent payments, sponsorships and image-rights arrangements. These transactions can involve complex ownership and contractual structures, making the sector relevant from an anti-money-laundering perspective. Switzerland is also particularly significant as a centre of international sports
The Göthberg v. Lazio Women case (CAS 2025/A/11527) is set to become an important precedent in the field of women’s sports employment law. The decision clarifies that, within the FIFA/CAS framework, the absence of a signature and registration does not necessarily prevent the formation of an
Professional football in the United Kingdom (UK) is officially regarded as a high-risk target for money laundering. In fact, the UK Government National Risk Assessment expressly includes professional football within its financial crime focus. There are a number of reasons why money laundering in football is a
On 29 May 2026, the Swiss Sports Tribunal (SST) has found a football official guilty of sexual misconduct for suggestive remarks and inappropriate physical contact and ordered him to undergo behavioural training. In September 2023, the Swiss Sport Ethics and Abuse Reporting Service received a report
It is sad to report, but racism in football in the United Kingdom (UK) continues to be a serious issue, with reports of abuse at both the professional and grassroots levels of the game, which have reached high levels in 2026. These reports often involve online
An amateur footballer has been suspended for four years by the Swiss Sports Tribunal (SST) for possession, use, and attempted use of the prohibited substance ibutamoren (MK-677). During a postal inspection, a package addressed to the footballer and containing 60 capsules of the prohibited substance ibutamoren
Discrimination against women in football is widespread and, on the increase, despite campaigns and initiatives aimed at reducing it (see below). It is reported that 89% of women involved in football and women fans of the men’s game are experiencing sexism, bullying, or harassment. The key concerns
Dr Estelle Ivanova, the Head of our French Law Practice, has published a new article in the New Law Journal (www.newlawjournal.co.uk) on ethics bonus clauses in footballers’ employment contracts. A recent case in France, which involved the French national team professional footballer, Kylian Mbappé, who currently
In General Money laundering is a significant and growing problem in sport, which, globally, is now a multi-billion US dollar industry in its own right, particularly in association football, which is the world’s favourite and most lucrative sport. This is largely due to the eye-watering sums, cross-border