European Union: Sport

Italy's football system faces a critical juncture following three consecutive World Cup qualification failures, prompting a comprehensive draft bill that targets structural reforms across agent fees, transfer guarantees, and youth development. With the sector generating over one billion euros annually yet burdened by €5.5 billion in debt, the proposed legislation seeks to transform Italian football from a cost center into a competitive asset for future national teams.

FIFA's revised Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players introduce sweeping changes to international football governance, fundamentally reshaping how player contracts, transfers, and compensation disputes are handled. Following the landmark Diarra judgment by the CJEU, these reforms establish a more collaborative regulatory framework that balances contractual stability with enhanced player protections and mobility rights.

Novagraaf presents a comprehensive webinar exploring the intersection of sports and counterfeiting, examining how intellectual property rights are challenged in the athletic industry. The session will address key legal strategies and enforcement mechanisms to combat counterfeit sports merchandise and protect brand integrity in this lucrative sector.

La CNIL a publié ses axes de contrôles prioritaires pour 2026, ciblant le recrutement, les données électorales et les fédérations sportives. Quels sont les risques pour les organismes concernés et comment anticiper ces contrôles pour éviter des sanctions potentiellement lourdes ?

Malta's nationality law includes a discretionary framework for acquiring Maltese citizenship recognising individuals who have rendered or will render exceptional services to the country.

On 19 February 2026, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport (the "Minister") announced Government approval to publish the Media Regulation Bill 2026 (the "Media Regulation Bill").

Les Enhanced Games, prévus pour mai 2026 à Las Vegas, constituent un projet de compétition multisports qui autorise l'utilisation de substances dopantes, sous encadrement médical.

The start and end of seasonal periods in France – in summer, after the grape harvest, and in winter, at the end of the ski season – are an opportunity to review the rules governing seasonal fixed-term contracts.

In August 2025, two members of the Italian Senate introduced Draft Law No. 1626, aimed at strengthening transparency and traceability in the ownership structures of professional football clubs in Italy.