Sports Law Links

Each week The Sports Esquires keep track of the sports law headlines so you don’t have to. This week’s edition highlights the ongoing FIFA scandal and Sepp Blatter’s resignation, the UNC academic fraud allegations, and Tom Benson’s mental competency trial.

FIFA

• The Resignation: Newly re-elected FIFA President Sepp Blatter decides to resign. His resignation statement. Pondering why Blatter is stepping down. Where FIFA stands after Blatter’s resignation – what now?
• The Investigation: Blatter’s top deputy implicated in a central bribery case. FIFA’s response. Chuck Blazer’s guilty plea and admissions, including accepting bribes for World Cup votes. More on the Department of Justice’s novel application of RICO outside the U.S. The old Scottish reporter who aided the investigation from the beginning. Charles Pierce calls it the sports crime of the century. On the lighter side: self-defense gone wrong. Without an Onion article to defend himself, Jack Warner threatens an “avalanche” of secrets.
• The World Cup Fight: Australian police investigating the country’s 2022 World Cup bid. The legal fight over the disputed World Cups could drag on. The U.S. Soccer Federation’s possible challenge to the World Cup decision. Revotes may result.
• Moving On: Can FIFA be cleaned up? How broad will the investigation’s influence be?
• How the Cayman Islands became a FIFA power.
• FIFA paid the Irish after Thierry Henry’s infamous handball so they wouldn’t take legal action.

NCAA

• UNC releases the Notice of Allegations concerning the academic fraud scandal, including five severe charges. The full document is here. The accompanying exhibits are here. How will UNC be punished? Andy Staples on the problematic state of the NCAA model.
• Court dismisses collegiate right of publicity class action suit against television broadcasters.
• The NCAA and Don Remy remain defiant in the O’Bannon litigation.
• UAB reinstates football for 2016.
• The NCAA seeks to seal internal documents in wrongful death suit.

NFL

• Saints owner Tom Benson’s mental competency trial is underway. Recap of Day 1, Day 2, Day 4, and Day 5.
• How Tom Brady could benefit from Roger Goodell hearing his appeal.
• Aaron Hernandez’s attorneys claim a juror was biased.
• The NFLPA is seeking to increase the performance-based pay pool.
• Andrew Brandt on negotiating NFL contracts.

Sports Betting and Fantasy Sports

• Daniel Wallach on the New Jersey sports betting waiting game and potential domino effect.
• Nevada legalizes sports betting investment funds.
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver envisions sports betting: regulated and taxed.
• The future of horse racing: fantasy sports?

MLB

• Nathaniel Grow on baseball’s antitrust exemption.
• Regional sports networks have appealed the district court’s decision to approve class certification in the Garber v. MLB television antitrust case.
• Ambidextrous pitchers and default rules.

Best of the Rest

• Part Two of my series on public sports subsidies: the costs of professional sports in a community. Part One here.
• Avi Sommer on potential liability in horse racing.
• NBPA hired a neurologist to examine the NBA’s concussion protocols. Michele Roberts indicated the new scrutiny relates to the Warriors’ injuries in the playoffs.
• Former player and coach sues the NHL over concussions.
• Insuring against injury: a tradition as old as Babe Ruth.
• Former players file a concussion lawsuit against the Canadian Football League.