Controlled Freedom vs. Economic Oligarchy: Labor Law and Competitive Balance in Transatlantic Professional Football

This article compares how professional football is regulated in the United States and Europe, focusing on labour law and competitive balance. It contrasts MLS’s single-entity model, draft system and salary cap with the European post-Bosman framework, where freedom of movement and player bargaining power play a central role. The article explores whether both systems truly achieve competitive balance and how they are evolving toward hybrid models shaped by legal, financial and stakeholder pressures.