Journal article

Publication details

Bosman – there and back again: The legitimacy of playing quotas under European Union sports policy
in journal: European Law Journal

Volume number: 17
Issue number: 5
Release year: 2011
Page range: 828-849

Author(s) details

Simon Gardiner

Roger Welch

Publication description

Keywords:
bosman, free movement, worker, citizenship, football, quotas, collective agreement, labour law
Abstract:
The 1995 ruling of the European Court of Justice in Bosman was a pivotal point in the relationship between the European Union and sport. It has had an immense impact upon professional team sports, most notably football, in terms of liberalising the transfer system and abolishing player quotas. This paper will chart the development of a European sports law policy generally and will specifically discuss two current proposals concerning the reintroduction of playing quotas in football. We will examine the legality of these proposals with reference to Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and will evaluate the political context within which these proposals have been promulgated. It will be suggested that a possible solution, which should end legal uncertainty, could be the adoption of a collective agreement or directive based on the methodology of reflexive labour law.