O REI Sport Law Publications
A working archive of student writing in international sports law.
Selected student articles and master's theses produced inside O REI. A working record of how the next generation of sports lawyers is thinking about the legal questions shaping the industry.
Articles published by O REI faculty, students, and alumni in external journals and outlets.
External Publications
9 entries
2025-2026 edition
3 entries
African Talent Pathways & Exploitation Risks: Are FIFA’s Safeguards Sufficient?
This article examines the opportunities and risks linked to African football talent pathways, with particular focus on the potential exploitation of young players seeking professional opportunities abroad. It analyses whether FIFA’s existing safeguards are sufficient to protect vulnerable players from abusive intermediaries, irregular academies and unsafe migration routes. The article highlights the need for stronger regulation, monitoring and accountability to ensure that talent development is matched with effective player protection.
Hazem Gamal Elsaidy & Hassan Youssef
LLM 2025-2026 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
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.
Zachary Collins, Alejandra Karen Zaragoza & Guy Schlaefli
LLM 2025-2026 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
Denial of Justice Through the Lens of CAS: When is a Sports Governing Body Liable?
This article analyses the concept of denial of justice in sports disputes through the perspective of CAS jurisprudence. It examines when a sports governing body may be held liable for failing to provide effective access to justice, proper procedures or timely decision-making. The article highlights the importance of due process, institutional accountability and fair dispute resolution mechanisms within the governance of sport.
Saverio Spera & Krisstian Terziev
LLM 2025-2026 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
2024-2025 edition
6 entries
Administrative Obligations in Football: Legal Implications of Visa, Work Permit and Registration Failures
This article analyses the legal consequences of a club’s failure to comply with key administrative obligations in international football transfers, particularly obtaining visas, work permits and completing player registration. Drawing on FIFA regulations and CAS jurisprudence, it explains that clubs, as employers, are generally responsible for ensuring that players are legally able to work and compete. The article also addresses how serious failures in this process may give players grounds to terminate their employment contracts with just cause.
Alberto Ruiz de Aguiar Díaz-Obregón & Alexander Kirov
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
Mind over Matter: How Mental Health Protections are Transforming Contracts in Sports
This article explores how mental health considerations are increasingly influencing the drafting and interpretation of sports contracts. It analyses the growing need to protect athletes’ psychological wellbeing through contractual safeguards, institutional duties of care and more balanced employment relationships. The article highlights how mental health is becoming a key legal and governance issue in modern sport, moving beyond performance concerns into contract design, athlete protection and organisational responsibility.
Rodrigo Arias Grillo & Emely Saenz
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
Football States Intrusion: When States and Sovereign Fund Redefine the Rules of the Games
This article examines the growing influence of states and sovereign wealth funds in football, analysing how state-backed investment can reshape club ownership, competition structures and governance standards. It discusses the tension between football’s traditional autonomy and the increasing political, economic and strategic interests of state actors, raising key questions around sportswashing, financial fairness, regulatory control and the integrity of the game.
Carlos Badenes Tormo & Brice Belhumeur
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
The Nature of the Football Tribunal
This article analyses the legal and institutional nature of the FIFA Football Tribunal, focusing on its role within football’s dispute resolution system. It likely examines the Tribunal’s structure, jurisdiction and function in resolving international football disputes, particularly those involving players, clubs, coaches and agents. The article is especially relevant for understanding how FIFA administers sports justice and how its decisions interact with broader regulatory frameworks and potential appeals before CAS.
Rui Botica Santos & Pedro Henrique Gomes Ramiz Wright
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
The Influence of Athlete Activism in Modern Sports: Vinicius Jr. as an Advocate for Change
This article examines the role of athlete activism in modern sport through the example of Vinicius Jr. and his public stance against racism and discrimination in football. It analyses how high-profile athletes can influence social debate, pressure institutions to act, and reshape expectations around governance, accountability and equality in sport. The article highlights the growing legal and ethical relevance of player advocacy beyond the field of play.
Rodrigo Arias Grillo & Lou Brouleau
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
The Impact of Social Media on Players – Does the Freedom of Speech Exist?
This article analyses the tension between players’ freedom of expression and the regulatory, contractual and reputational limits imposed by clubs, leagues and governing bodies. It explores how social media has amplified athletes’ public voice, while also increasing the risk of disciplinary consequences, reputational harm and contractual disputes. The article highlights the need to balance individual rights with professional obligations, team interests and the broader integrity of sport.
Alberto Ruiz de Aguiar Díaz-Obregón & Josué Arroyo
LLM 2024-2025 O REI Sports Law Graduate
12 June 2026
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Submissions are welcomed from current O REI students, alumni, and visiting researchers. Include your full name, programme, and a brief statement of credentials.
contact@orei.institute