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

Sports law in Belgium is not consolidated within a single code. Instead, it operates as a layered framework where federal legislation, community and regional rules, and the private regulations of sports governing bodies such as FIFA, UEFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) coexist and interact. In professional football for example, this hybrid structure translates into an intricate combination of employment and contract law, disciplinary and dispute-resolution mechanisms, public regulation on safety and integrity, and specific rules governing intermediaries and agents.

At the federal level, the employment relationship of a paid athlete is governed by the Law of 24 February 1978, which establishes a special employment regime departing from general labour law. Issues not expressly covered by that statute fall under the general law of obligations, now codified in Book 5 of the new Civil Code.

The Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (BCAS/CBAS/BAS) functions as the principal arbitral body for most sporting disputes, alongside CEPANI’s C-SAR chamber for specific licensing matters. In Flanders, integrity-related cases, such as harassment or doping among elite athletes, fall within the jurisdiction of the Flemish Sport Tribunal (Vlaams Sporttribunaal).

A distinctive feature of the Belgian system is that the regulation of sports agents is regional rather than national. Each of Belgium’s three Regions — Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital — sets its own rules for intermediary activity. In Flanders, agency activities fall under the Decree on Private Employment Mediation, which requires agents to register with the Flemish authorities and comply with strict transparency and conduct obligations. Non-compliance may lead to administrative sanctions. The other Regions apply different regimes, creating a degree of legal fragmentation for agents operating across Belgium. This regional framework operates independently from the rules of sports federations such as FIFA or the RBFA, meaning that agents must ensure compliance at both levels — public registration under regional law and private licensing under sporting regulations.

EU law also continues to exert strong influence: the CJEU’s 4 October 2024 judgment in case C-650/22 (Diarra v. FIFA & RBFA) confirmed that Belgian proceedings remain at the forefront of the European debate on the balance between sporting autonomy and EU competition law.

Overall, Belgium’s sports law framework is hybrid and multilayered: a fusion of mandatory public regulation (safety, anti-money-laundering, regional mediation regimes), traditional employment and contract law, and the private self-regulation of sports bodies. Oversight is shared between ordinary courts, specialised arbitration institutions, and the European Union’s legal order.

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

Build structure early. Most legal problems in sport don’t come from bad intentions. They come from bad planning. Too many careers start with handshake deals, vague promises, or “standard” contracts that nobody has read carefully. Every clause you agree to — about termination, image rights, bonuses, or exclusivity etc. — determines your freedom to move and your financial future. Bring in proper legal advice before you sign, not after things go wrong. A good lawyer isn’t there to slow you down. They’re there to make sure your success actually belongs to you.

Treat integrity and compliance as part of professionalism. The sports world has changed: governance, data protection, anti-doping, and financial transparency are no longer background issues. They shape reputations and careers. Athletes, clubs, and agencies who take compliance seriously are the ones trusted by sponsors, investors, and federations. Credibility now moves faster than talent. Acting ethically, keeping transparent records, and respecting the rules are not limitations – they’re leverage.

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

The Diarra judgment of the Court of Justice (C-650/22, 4 October 2024) and the subsequent Semenya v. Switzerland ruling of the European Court of Human Rights have fundamentally redefined the balance between sporting autonomy, labour law, and European and human rights in Europe. Together, they expose the fragility of systems that have long relied on private regulation without full judicial scrutiny.

In Diarra, the Court of Justice confirmed that core mechanisms of the FIFA transfer regime — such as joint liability, automatic transfer bans and the control of the International Transfer Certificate — infringe Articles 45 and 101 TFEU unless they can be shown to be strictly necessary and proportionate to the legitimate aims of contractual stability and integrity of competition. While the ruling was framed narrowly, it pierced the assumption that sport enjoys immunity from ordinary market rules.

At the same time, the Semenya ruling of 10 July 2025 has shaken the foundations of international sports adjudication. The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights found that the Swiss Supreme Court had reviewed a CAS award too deferentially when fundamental rights were engaged, violating Article 14 in conjunction with Article 8 of the Convention. The Court required a “particularly rigorous” standard of review whenever an arbitral award touches human dignity, equality, or bodily integrity.

The convergence of Diarra and Semenya signals a decisive shift in European sports governance. Sporting bodies can no longer rely on autonomy as a shield against market regulation or human-rights oversight. Across Europe, clubs, athletes, and federations must adapt to a more “constitutionalised” order. The next twelve months will therefore test not only the durability of long-standing rules but also the imagination of those who must reconcile the business of sport with the imperatives of law.

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

Client satisfaction is at the core of everything we do. Our practice is built on constant availability, meticulous follow-up, and strategic engagement with every case. We are not merely service providers: we are true partners to our clients.

We are always reachable and deeply involved from start to finish. Every file is actively managed. Nothing is left unattended. We monitor each development closely, anticipate next steps, and ensure that every aspect of the case moves forward efficiently and purposefully. Our commitment extends beyond technical execution: we think strategically and creatively, always seeking the most effective and sustainable outcome.

What distinguishes our approach is the depth of our engagement. We make it a point to step into our client’s shoes, to understand their objectives, concerns, and pressures as if they were our own. This perspective allows us to act not only as legal advisors but as trusted strategic allies, balancing legal precision with business and personal realities.

Communication is open, honest, and ongoing. We provide clear, practical updates and well-reasoned advice.

Ultimately, our goal is simple: to deliver results with integrity, excellence, and care. Every case receives the same level of dedication. We pursue it as though it were our own.

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

Artificial intelligence is becoming a central force in Sports Law. Because many contracts in this field – such as player employment or agent agreements – must comply with strict federation templates, AI tools can efficiently review and adapt these standardised documents. This enables lawyers, as well as clubs, to detect regulatory inconsistencies and ensure compliance under tight transfer deadlines, offering both speed and reliability.

Sports law is also uniquely suited to AI-assisted research. With a vast amount of publicly available case law from bodies such as CAS and FIFA, AI can rapidly identify relevant precedents.

Still, technology cannot replace experience. Human verification and practical insight remain essential to interpret nuances and protect clients’ interests. AI simply removes part of the repetitive workload, allowing lawyers to focus on what truly matters in often time-sensitive cases.

Our firm has established a strategic partnership with LegalFly, both using and assisting in the development of its tools. LegalFly is an AI company with a particular focus on the sports industry, helping bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical sports law expertise.