The rulings that changed the rights of athletes, summarised in plain words. Informative only — not legal advice.
1995 · Court of Justice of the EU (C-415/93)
A player out of contract can move clubs without a transfer fee, and EU nationality quotas are unlawful. Free movement of workers applies to professional sport.
contrat · transfert · libre circulation
Official source2006 · CJEU (C-519/04 P)
Sporting rules, anti-doping included, are not immune from competition law: they must be proportionate to the aim pursued.
dopage · concurrence · proportionnalité
Official source2018 · European Court of Human Rights (Mutu & Pechstein v. Switzerland)
Forced CAS arbitration is permitted, but the athlete is entitled to a public hearing and an independent tribunal (Article 6 ECHR).
TAS · procès équitable · discipline
Official source2023 · European Court of Human Rights (Semenya v. Switzerland)
Switzerland failed to provide sufficient safeguards against discrimination arising from the testosterone rules: violation of Articles 8, 13 and 14.
discrimination · droits humains · athlétisme
Official source2024 · CJEU (C-650/22, Lassana Diarra)
Several FIFA rules on contract termination and the new club's joint liability restrict free movement and competition.
contrat · FIFA · transfert
Official source2023 · CJEU (C-333/21, European Superleague)
A federation cannot subject competitions to discretionary approval without transparent, objective and non-discriminatory criteria.
gouvernance · concurrence · football
Official source2023 · CJEU (C-680/21, Royal Antwerp)
Home-grown player quota rules must be justified and proportionate, otherwise they restrict free movement.
quotas · formation · libre circulation
Official source1974 · ECJ (36/74, Walrave & Koch)
Sport falls under EU law whenever it is an economic activity: the first breach in the 'autonomy of sport'.
principe · activité économique
Official source2021 · Swiss Federal Tribunal / CAS
A CAS award was annulled for arbitrator bias: panel impartiality is a fundamental guarantee for the athlete.
TAS · dopage · procédure
Official source2020 · CAS (Blake Leeper v. World Athletics)
The burden of proving no advantage from prostheses cannot fall on the disabled athlete: the rule was found discriminatory.
handicap · discrimination · athlétisme
Official source2019 · CAS (Semenya & ASA v. IAAF)
CAS accepted the rule was discriminatory but deemed it 'necessary': later challenged before the ECHR.
discrimination · genre · athlétisme
Official source2008 · CAS (Webster v. Heart of Midlothian)
After the protected period, compensation owed by a player who terminates is in principle limited to the residual contract value.
contrat · rupture · football
Official source2009 · CAS (Matuzalem)
Terminating without just cause can be very costly: compensation includes the player's replacement value for the injured club.
contrat · indemnité · football
Official source2018 · Criminal courts (Nassar, USA Gymnastics)
Convictions established the liability of institutions that ignore abuse reports involving underage athletes.
abus · protection · gymnastique
Official source