The Future of European Sports Law: The Lisbon Treaty and Sport

Students, visitors and invited guests joined three of the UK's leading authorities on sports law at a recent Edge Hill seminar The Future of European Sports Law: The Lisbon Treaty and Sport.

Hosted by the Department of Law and Criminology, the seminar saw the distinguished trio of Maurice Watkins, a Director of Manchester United and Senior Partner at leading law firm Brabners Chaffe Street, Professor Stephen Weatherill of the University of Oxford and Ken Foster of the University of Westminster share their thoughts and draw on personal experiences before taking questions from the audience.

The event provided the opportunity to debate the meaning of the ‘specific nature' of sport and whether courts have recognised these specificities in their jurisprudence. It also allowed participants to enquire into whether the Lisbon article on sport offers sports governing bodies an exemption from the application of EU free movement and competition law.

Organiser Professor Richard Parrish, Director for the Centre of Sports Law Research at Edge Hill commented, "Ken is a true pioneer in teaching Sports Law as an academic discipline, Maurice has over 30 years experience at Old Trafford and Stephen is widely regarded as the leading authority on the law of the European Union and on its application to sporting contexts."

Richard added, "It has been an honour to welcome our guests to Edge Hill today and to provide this unique opportunity for our students and university visitors."