In October 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (‘CJEU’) delivered their judgement in favour of Lassana Diarra, a former premier league footballer, against Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. The ruling has been likened to the famous Bosman Ruling for its potential implications for professional footballers. James Forrester delves into the discourse surrounding the Diarra case, as well as the rights of players and FIFA’s complicated relationship with European labour laws.

The rise of Australian punters in American college football has sparked controversy, with a U.S. father launching a class action against the NCAA. Citing unfair advantages linked to age and eligibility, the case challenges the role of ProKick and the influx of older, AFL-trained Aussies taking spots on college rosters. Kate Thomson unpacks the lawsuit and what it could mean for the future of international recruitment in the NCAA.

Christian Petracca’s future at Melbourne has come under scrutiny following reports of dissatisfaction with the club and a difficult start to the 2025 season. While both player and club remain publicly committed to his contract, speculation has raised questions about what formal avenues exist if tensions were to escalate. Connor Evans examines the AFL’s little-known Grievance Procedure under the Collective Bargaining Agreement — a mechanism designed to resolve disputes between players and clubs without resorting to litigation — and considers how it might apply in this high-profile case.

Round One's Saturday night clash between the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne was brought to a halt following a collision between North Melbourne's Jackson Archer and the Western Bulldogs' Luke Cleary, leading to a 3-week suspension for Archer. Romy Mesfin weighs in on the decision and the precedent it sets within the context of an increasingly concussion-conscious game.

From “Ladies Tickets” and “novelty” games to the team’s most recent 16-nil Ashes sweep, women's cricket in Australia has undergone a remarkable transformation since its inception. The Australian Women’s Cricket team is now arguably one of the world’s strongest sports teams, but its success is no coincidence. Imogen Owen explores Cricket Australia’s robust sports law framework at the core of the equitable treatment of their women’s programs, from grassroots to the Australian side. 

History was made in Australian football as the A-League fixture between Melbourne City and Macarthur FC became the first professional game this season to pause for a Ramadan break. James Accadia explores the significance of halting play at sundown to allow players to break their fast and how the move aligns with global football’s commitment to inclusivity.

Today, athletes sign endorsement deals with many different perks, such as royalty payments and personalised products. However, this was not always the case. Charlie Cooper unpacks the landmark endorsement deal between Nike and Michael Jordan that completely redefined how sporting companies endorse athletes.

Summer in Melbourne serves up the Australian Open at the start of each year, bringing in the world’s very best tennis players to compete for grand slam glory. Controversy though, is never too far away.

In light of recent events concerning Novak Djokovic and Tony Jones, Shalaaka delves into how the Human Rights Commission may now become involved, investigating a complaint by the Serbian Council of Australia.

Since the 2018 Supreme Court decision lifting the federal ban on sports betting, the U.S. has seen a rapid expansion in the industry. However, this expansion has also led to a whole host of legal complications, ethical concerns, and public health risks.

In this article, Valeria Casasola dives into the world of sports gambling in the US, and proposes several changes inspired by lessons learned in the Australian gambling community.

In this article, Alexandra Tayler provides an MSLA September Update featuring: an event summary of the Women in Sports Law Panel, a ticket link to our highly anticipated Third Annual AFL GF Breakfast and an update on Season 2 of the ‘Off the Field’ podcast series.

We sincerely thank Margot Foster, Jessica Cao, Emily Thompson and Daniella Phair for their time, insight and inspiring words. There was a great sense of enthusiasm about the future of Sports Law, as the stories shared demonstrate the importance of resilience, passion and adopting a forward-thinking approach in the dynamic field of Sports Law.

A new Premier League season has kicked off, and clubs across the country are vying to dethrone Manchester City, who have dominated the league in recent history. However, Manchester City's toughest battle this season may be off the field, as they face serious allegations on breaching the Premier League's financial fair play rules.

In this article, Luke Karapetsas outlines the charges that Manchester City are facing, and discusses a range of potential ramifications.

The recently concluded Paris Olympics showcased world class talent and entertainment across two exciting weeks. Unfortunately, however, it also reminded us of the complex entanglement between sports and human rights.

In this article, Ben Stirling discusses some recent human rights controversies, both in the Olympics context and in the domestic Australian sports context, and explores the connection between sports and human rights.

Spectators of all sports will always want to get as close to the action as possible, but what happens when they get too close?

In this article, Grace Bailey explores disruptive spectator behaviour specifically in the world of cycling, and analyses the range of legal consequences they may face.

There has been a concerning influx of homophobic slurs used by AFL players in the recent months.

In this article, Shalaaka Brahmavar examines the current regulations and sanctions that aim to deter such behaviour, and discusses whether these methods are getting the job done.

The world is ready to turn its attention to Paris for the fast-approaching 2024 Summer Olympics. Behind all its glitz and glamour, organising and hosting the biggest sporting event in the world is riddled with legal complexities.

In this article, Benjamin Stirling breaks down the contractual foundation of the Olympics, and identifies some of its newly added provisions as well as certain restraints on host countries.

The historic collective bargaining agreement (CBA) signed by the AFL and AFLW last year is bound to shape the trajectory of the sport moving forward.

In this article, James Accadia breaks down all the newly-added incentives for first year draftees, and how these changes can impact their future contracts and career as a whole.

The proposal of the European Super League in 2021 shocked the global football landscape, and directly challenged UEFA’s monopoly over European football.

In this article, Valeria Casasola analyses the reasons why despite a favourable landmark ruling by the European Court of Justice, the Super League’s development has been halted and on the brink of collapse.

Since its official launch in 2021, LIV Golf has had its fair share of controversy and time in the spotlight; from engaging in intense litigious battles with the PGA Tours to now in the process of finalising a merger with them.

In this article, Connor Evans examines the brief but eventful history of LIV Golf through the lens of competition law, and considers the wider implications a merger will have on the sport.

Professional sport is ‘at the absolute frontier of human monitoring’, with athletes being constantly monitored both on and off the field. This raises questions around the ethical collection and use of athlete data.

In this article, Susie Xu addresses these concerns and considers whether the generalist provisions under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) provide adequate protection.

With the AFL finally returning to action, fans around the country are once again drawn to the riveting action it promises. But beyond the excitement you see on TV, lies a longstanding issue of concussions and its impact on player safety and wellbeing.

In this article, Richard Wotherspoon explores the current ongoing class action brought by former player Max Rooke against the AFL, and what this may mean for the future of the sport.