Sports lawyers push for legal awareness in football

  The 2025 Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) has intensified calls for enhanced legal education in football, emphasizing the need for clubs, managers, and academies to strengthen their understanding of contractual and regulatory frameworks. Held in Abuja, the event convened leading sports lawyers from across the globe to discuss the growing legal challenges in the […]

The 2025 Football Law Annual Moot (FLAM) has intensified calls for enhanced legal education in football, emphasizing the need for clubs, managers, and academies to strengthen their understanding of contractual and regulatory frameworks.
Held in Abuja, the event convened leading sports lawyers from across the globe to discuss the growing legal challenges in the sport, particularly the protection of players’ rights and contractual stability.
Organised by legal practitioner Pius Ndubuokwu under the theme, “The Role of International Arbitral Tribunals in Maintaining Contractual Stability in Football”, the conference highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by Nigerian players competing abroad.
Ndubuokwu revealed that over the past decade, approximately 17,200 Nigerian players have transferred internationally, with more than 30% experiencing contractual breaches—yet 80–90% were unaware of these violations.
He emphasised that educating players on their legal rights is vital for the broader football ecosystem. “Contracts form the foundation of football. Without legal awareness, players, clubs, and agents are all at risk. Strengthening legal education is not optional—it underpins the entire industry,” Ndubuokwu said.
Ricardo de Buen, a veteran arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), echoed these concerns, noting that limited access to legal counsel in home countries leaves many players unprotected.
“By building local legal capacity, we empower lawyers to support athletes and clubs effectively, ensuring fair outcomes in domestic and international disputes,” he added.