1. What is the current legal landscape for Sports Law in your jurisdiction?

Football was introduced in Uruguay by English immigrants in the 1880s. Since then, it has been the country’s most popular sport. In Uruguay, football is a way of life for all Uruguayans. The vast majority of Uruguayans identify with a football club, primarily one of the ‘greats’ (los grandes), namely Peñarol or Nacional. Sundays are, par excellence, the days dedicated to the practice of this sport.

Football matches are played across the length and breadth of the country, becoming the topic of discussion on the streets throughout the week. Football is a culture in Uruguay, and its practice can be seen virtually everywhere, from the historic Estadio Centenario to the streets of urban areas.

Over the years, however, economic problems and a critical lack of professional management began to condition the evolution of football in our country. In stark contrast to the exponential professionalization of management seen in global football in recent years, Uruguayan football continued for years to deepen its inherent difficulties, retaining its status as ‘artisan football’ (fútbol artesanal).

To all of the above must be added the aforementioned difficulty in accessing financing for club operations, a situation that would be unthinkable for most professional clubs in top-tier global leagues.

In this context, the football industry has found a clear path to mitigate its structural problems: the implementation of Sporting Corporations (Sociedades Anónimas Deportivas – S.A.D.). In recent years, several robust international investment groups have arrived in the country.

Sports Law was not immune to this shifting reality. The entry and development of foreign capital have undeniably elevated this area of practice to a new level.

In Uruguay, sports law has experienced remarkable growth, largely due to the high professional standards of the jurists who practice in this field. However, this significant progress is partly tempered by other areas that still require further depth and consolidation—such as the academic sphere—where the availability of specialized courses, diplomas, and postgraduate programs remains quite limited.

It is also worth highlighting that Uruguayan legal professionals specializing in sports law actively participate on major international stages of sports arbitration and litigation. Examples include their presence in highly respected bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS/CAS) and within the FIFA legal system, as well as their work on national legal matters.

This combination—high-level jurists, international involvement, and an academic sector still in development—illustrates a dual reality: on one hand, a country with strong capacity and experience in sports law; on the other, a pending agenda in terms of education, academic institutionalization, and the expansion of specialization.

2. What three essential pieces of advice would you give to clients involved in Sports Law matters?

In recent years, sports have undergone significant professionalization across multiple areas — from club management and contract negotiation to image rights and player transfers-. This evolution has increased the complexity of operations among players, clubs, and federations, and has underscored the importance of strengthening disciplinary, regulatory, and compliance aspects that were once perhaps secondary.

In this dynamic context, there are three essential pieces of advice we always share with my clients in the sports industry:

1. Seek specialized advice in each area. General legal knowledge is no longer sufficient; player contract negotiations, sponsorship management, sports discipline, image rights, international transfers, or club governance all require professionals with direct experience in the sports sector.
2. Plan short- and medium-term strategies with the entire sports ecosystem in mind. It is not enough to close a deal today; it is crucial to assess how each agreement fits into the player’s or club’s overall trajectory, how it will impact image rights, reputation, sponsorship commitments, potential sanctions, or regulatory requirements. The sports environment evolves quickly, and the decisions made today will shape future stages of any project.
3. Always keep sports regulations in mind, as they are highly dynamic. The rules of national and international federations, codes of conduct, transfer regulations, and provisions on image rights, doping, or integrity change frequently. As is evident in advising sports entities, regulation is never static — and overlooking it can lead to sanctions, contract nullity, or loss of rights.

Adopting this approach — specialized counsel, strategic foresight, and regulatory awareness — enables clients to act with confidence, adapt to the market, and minimize risks in an increasingly demanding and professionalized environment.

3. What are the greatest threats and opportunities in Sports Law law in the next 12 months?

In our opinion, the main opportunities within the field of sports law are found primarily in areas that remain largely unexplored in Uruguay — for instance, the academic and specialized research dimension. Although professional practice has developed significantly, there is still ample room to generate scientific knowledge, design courses and postgraduate programs, and produce publications and theoretical frameworks specific to sports law.

On the other hand, the challenges faced by legal professionals specializing in this area are equally significant: the constant need for ongoing education and adaptation to the rapid pace at which regulations, federation rules, sports arbitration bodies, and international frameworks evolve. Given the dynamic nature of the sports ecosystem — with new practices, emerging modalities, and frequently amended regulations — jurists must remain continuously up to date, which represents a major challenge in terms of continuous training, institutional adaptation, and quick responsiveness.

We consider that the ‘boom’ of Sporting Corporations (S.A.D.) and the subsequent inflow of foreign investment, being the most relevant growth engine, represents a significant window of opportunity for Sports Law professionals. This surge generates a constant and complex legal demand:

1. Structuring and Corporate Governance. Structuring and Corporate Governance: Advising international investors on the formation of the S.A.D., adapting to Uruguayan regulations (Law No. 17.292 and its amendments), and designing the corporate governance structure.

2. Asset Transfer Agreements: Negotiating and drafting the agreements between the Civil Association (the original club) and the S.A.D. for the transfer of football assets (players, training rights, etc.), including the review of the asset restitution guarantees now required by law.

3. Investment Regulation: Analyzing and ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regulations, especially when handling foreign capital flows and player transactions.

4. Intellectual Property Rights and Commercial Exploitation. Professionalization implies monetization beyond player sales, and here the legal framework is key.

5. Image Rights and Endorsements: Advising players and clubs on structuring image rights, sponsorship, and endorsement contracts, ensuring proper brand protection.

6. Broadcasting Rights: The current dispute over Uruguayan football TV rights (AUF vs. Tenfield) demonstrates the great complexity and value at stake. Experts are needed in negotiating media contracts, broadcasting, and new distribution platforms.”

In summary, while the field shows a promising future in terms of academic and research development, it simultaneously demands a serious commitment to continuous learning, specialization, and regulatory awareness so that sports law professionals can operate effectively within an increasingly complex environment.

4. How do you ensure high client satisfaction levels are maintained by your practice?

In the field of sports law, legal practice is distinguished not only by its juridical complexity but also by the high degree of direct interaction with clients. Consequently, client satisfaction rests on two fundamental pillars: (i) sound advice, grounded in a deep understanding of the sports industry—its regulations, dynamics and contractual particularities; and (ii) close and personalised service, one that takes into account the uniqueness of each athlete, club, sponsor or agent, and that fosters trust, clarity and direct access to a legal advisor who understands both sport and the legal framework.

Within this context, the ability to combine technical rigor with professional empathy and availability is what sets a strong sports-law advisor apart: one who communicates in accessible terms, anticipates risks and opportunities, and acts as a strategic partner to the client, rather than merely playing a procedural role.

Finally, we suggest implementing client satisfaction measurement tools at regular intervals. Some of these include: Specific Customer Satisfaction Surveys (CSAT), Modified Net Promoter Score (NPS) for relationship evaluation, qualitative exit interviews, etc

What technological advancements are reshaping Sports Law and how can clients benefit from them?

Sports law has benefitted significantly from technology, particularly in light of the increased globalization of the industry. Today, accessing the full body of jurisprudence from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber is remarkably straightforward from virtually anywhere in the world.

Moreover, technological advances have made it possible to attend CAS hearings remotely and participate via teleconference or videoconference—thereby enabling the seamless connection of parties, counsel and arbitrators across different continents.

This digital evolution does more than simply facilitate logistics: it enhances accessibility, speed and efficiency of dispute-resolution in sport. At the same time, it challenges legal professionals to master not only the substantive rules of sports law but also the procedural and technological tools required for modern hearings, remote submissions and worldwide collaboration.

Finally, the development of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence has enhanced the speed and security involved in drafting and executing contracts.