Employment & Sports Disciplinary
We have extensive experience dealing with on and off field disciplinary issues at the highest level.
We act for sports clubs and organisations, players, coaches, club officials and agents, involved in disciplinary proceedings - both at first instance and on appeal. Our skills help ensure that our clients can field their strongest possible teams in the biggest games.
We also have experience of advising in relation to Paralympic classification, Paralympic and Olympic selection as well as anti-doping matters
Examples of our recent work include advising:
- numerous international rugby unions
- a Premiership Rugby club on a controversial on field disciplinary incident
- clubs with confidential coach and backroom staff issues
- a football club on sanctions imposed on it by the FA for fielding an ineligible player
- a leading football agent in disciplinary proceedings brought by the FA and FIFA
- a double Paralympic champion on a classification dispute with the IPC
- a rugby league player on proceedings brought by UK Anti-Doping
Related items
Related services
How to address allegations of discrimination: Karen Baxter and Lucy Hendley write for EG
02 September 2021Karen Baxter and Lucy Hendley set out the steps to take if your business is accused of being a toxic workplace.
Richard Miskella comments for HR Magazine on the new government harassment code of practice
18 December 2018Richard Miskella has commented for HR managzine on the government's announcement that it will work with the EHRC on a new code
Sports Q&A – Political and religious views of sports stars - balancing contractual restrictions with human rights
01 June 2018Sports personalities are often subject to sporting rules that restrict their ability to make political statements or promote religious ideology when competing. Furthermore, contractual provisions can also mean that statements made in their personal capacity while off duty, for example on social media, can lead to disciplinary action or worse. Can such restrictions be challenged on the basis of human rights? Does it make a difference if the athlete genuinely holds the views (e.g. because of religious or cultural beliefs)?
Sports Q&A – We store medical and biometric data of our athletes, what will GDPR and the UK Data Protection Bill mean for this?
26 April 2018The GDPR, which comes into force on 25 May 2018, imposes more onerous requirements when processing (including storing) ‘special categories’ of personal data, which includes ‘data concerning health’ and ‘biometric data’. The processing of ‘special’ personal data is prohibited unless the data controller can show that an exception applies.