EU Sports Law and Breakaway Leagues in Football

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Katarina Pijetlovic addresses the issue of breakaway leagues in football and their treatment under EU law. She guides readers through EU sports law, the unique aspects of the sporting industry, and the governance challenges in European football amid threats from elite clubs. To analyze the legality of UEFA clauses that restrict breakaway structures, Pijetlovic offers a progressive interpretation of EU sports law and reviews relevant EU sports cases under internal market and competition provisions, including insights on the UEFA home-grown rule and the Bosman case. She introduces an original theory of convergence between TFEU provisions on competition and the internal market, considering sporting exceptions. Applying these legal principles, she explores the legality of UEFA's restrictive clauses and the potential for alternative leagues in European football under EU sports law, revealing surprising outcomes. Additionally, she examines the often-overlooked legality of forming a breakaway league by elite clubs. The systematic approach makes the content accessible to both EU lawyers and non-EU sports lawyers, appealing to academics and practitioners alike.