Legal protection of juvenile athletes in the context of EU law

• Main Author: Ines Medić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu 2015-12-01
• Series: Zbornik Radova Pravnog Fakulteta u Splitu
• Subjects: legal protection of juvenile athletes; EU law; autonomous law of sporting associations; FIFA; UEFA
• Online Access: http://www.pravst.hr/dokumenti/zbornik/2015118/zb201504_1105.pdf
• ISSN: 0584-9063; 1847-0459

Current events in the world of sports, particularly football, point to the acute need for more legal protection of juvenile athletes. Even though children’s, including juvenile athletes’, rights are foremost and are protected at a global level by the UN convention on the rights of children, competition sport represents one of the areas where there is much room for improvement. In the EU, abuse of the rights of juvenile athletes is frequent and the causes numerous. Consequently, many legal issues arise including authority for problem resolution. Given the specifities of the organisation of the European model of sports and the possibilities of legislative activities of EU bodies, it was necessary to include the autonomous right of sporting associations. Firstly, normative regulation of sports at the EU level and the protection offered to juvenile athletes by European law are referred to. Secondly, the mechanisms of protection of juvenile athletes’ rights which are proscribed by autonomous sports law in the acts by FIFA and the UEFA are also mentioned. In particular, the recent examples from court practice are referred to such as the Arbitration Court for Sports and the EU Court which is important for better understanding of the relevant legal provisions. Finally, the author’s own stance is expressed de lege ferenda on how it would be possible to improve the legal position of this category of legal subjects.