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

The Sports Law landscape in Italy is shaped by a multi-layered regulatory mosaic consisting of national laws, the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) Regulations, collective bargaining agreements and the bylaws and regulations of National Sports Federations, on top of a multi-faced sports justice system providing for both judicial and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Key laws include: Legislative Decree No. 242/1999 on CONI’s role and organization; Law No. 280/2003 which establishes the principle of autonomy of the sports legal system; the 2021 Sports Reform (Legislative Decrees No. 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 of 2021), which, inter alia, renews the labour relations in sports providing for a definition of sports workers and re-organizes the sports agents discipline; the Foreigners Employment Act, and the Melandri Law (Legislative Decree No. 9/2008) governing broadcasting rights. The latter has been recently under the lens of the national debate, with the Italian Government considering abolishing it to allow exclusive assignment of broadcasting rights to a single operator for up to three years.

The regulatory framework consists of CONI Bylaws and regulations, including the CONI Code of Sports Justice; the CONI Code of Ethics; the CONI Regulations for the CONI High Court for Sport in arbitral capacity; and specific regulations for sports agents. CONI regulations are sources of public law, as they are adopted by a public body exercising regulatory authority over the national sports system. Moreover, each National Sports Federation, as a private-law entity operating under CONI’s supervision, adopts its own bylaws and issues its code of sports justice and internal regulations in combination with the provisions of the relevant International Sports Federations. Furthermore, employment relationships in sports are also regulated by specific collective bargaining agreements entered into by the players, coaches or sporting directors’ associations, the relevant league and the corresponding National Sports Federations.

As a final note, since many athletes in Italy are formally affiliated with military or police sports groups, specific internal regulations of the armed forces are enacted to regulate trainings, employment status, and participation in competitions.

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

The importance of sector-specific expertise and regulatory awareness

A thorough understanding of the sports sector and its regulatory framework is essential. Clients need to rely on professionals with a deep familiarity with the applicable policies, procedures and rules, which are in constant evolution. National legislation changes very frequently, and National Sport Federations review their regulations periodically to govern their internal relations, their relationship with affiliated members and the organization of competitions, as well as to adapt to the industry’s emerging needs.

These updates often stem from international developments, including amendments to International Sport Federations’ regulations and rulings delivered by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Furthermore, ad hoc regulatory frameworks are often enacted for specific events, such as, in Italy, Milano Cortina 2026. When advising clients in relation to such events, it is crucial to have a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant legal and regulatory context.

Be ready to operate within exceptionally tight timelines

Sports is a fast-paced industry which requires each and every stakeholder involved in its dynamics to be ready to work within very strict timelines.

Speed is vital in the day-to-day operations involved in sporting activities. For example, during football transfer windows, complex contractual and technical issues often need to be settled within just a few days or even hours to prevent transactions from falling through or players from moving to other clubs.

Moreover, in sports disputes, matters must be resolved in an expedited manner to avoid jeopardizing the fair and regular running of a competition. This is usually true throughout the entire duration of sports proceedings, from the initial stages to the last instance appeal before the CONI High Court for Sports.

Always keep in mind the transnational dimension of sport

In Italy, just like in the rest of the world, sports law is not an island. Sport is inherently transnational, cutting across borders, cultures and legal systems. It forms part of a sophisticated framework of rules and governing bodies that operate at national, continental and global levels, shaped by the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders.

At times, international rules may diverge from those applicable at a national level. Given this structure, cross-border disputes between stakeholders and/or institutional bodies are far from uncommon. Practitioners must be able to navigate proceedings before international bodies such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne or the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal in Munich. Even when acting for clients in Italy, a sound understanding of international regulations is indispensable when a matter involves cross-jurisdictional elements.

In such circumstances, identifying the competent adjudicating body and determining which language, arbitrators – whether from a common law or civil law background – and regulatory framework prevails becomes crucial to safeguarding the client’s position and ensuring legal certainty.

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

Over the next year, one of the main challenges for Sports Law in Italy will be the full implementation of the 2021 Sports Reform. The new framework introduces several challenges, particularly for small and amateur sports organisations required to comply with stricter requirements on employment protection and social security contributions, originally provided only for professional sport. Adapting to these new obligations will require significant administrative and financial effort.

Italy’s well-known bureaucratic complexity poses challenges in the preparation and management of major events such as the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, which will test Italy’s ability to deliver large-scale projects on time and within budget. The same bureaucratic inertia also continues to hinder the modernisation of sports facilities. This inefficiency creates a gap between Italy and other European countries, where public and private actors can develop modern and functional venues with far minor financial and organizational effort.

At the same time, these events represent a great opportunity for Italy to attract investment and tourism, to showcase its expertise in the sports industry, and to generate positive economic, social and educational impacts. If managed effectively, Milano-Cortina and other upcoming international competitions could serve as catalysts for long-term growth and modernisation in the Italian sports sector.

Another threat lies in the recent and forthcoming rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union, such as the Diarra Case, the Seraing Case and the RRC sports case. These decisions could reshape international sports regulations by requiring greater alignment with EU law. They may also affect the nature of international sports arbitration, whose autonomy has already been called into question. At a more national level, in Italy there is growing debate about reforming the domestic sports justice system to make it more transparent and equitable.

Broadcasting rights remain both a potential threat and an opportunity. The increasing role of OTT platforms and foreign investments could allow Italian sports content to reach wider international audiences, offering new revenue streams and visibility. However, the domestic regulatory framework, which dates back to 2008, may need to be revised to reflect current market realities and technological developments, particularly in relation to the assignment of exclusive broadcasting rights.

Moreover, Italy’s sports industry stands to benefit from the growing globalisation of its sporting product. Foreign investors are showing increasing interest in Italian football, basketball and volleyball, while athletes such as Jannik Sinner are enhancing the international reputation of Italian sport as a whole. Major forthcoming events, including the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, the ATP Finals in Turin and the 2027 Louis Vuitton America’s Cup in Naples, further underline the need for Italy to pair its sporting ambition with coherent regulatory reform and strategic planning. If it succeeds, the next twelve months could mark a turning point for the modernisation and international competitiveness of Italian sport.

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

At LCA Studio Legale, our Sports department combines the expertise and client dedication of a boutique firm with the international reach and resources of a full-service law firm. This balance allows us to maintain high levels of client satisfaction, rooted in a combination of responsiveness, expertise and strategic vision. We operate in a fast-paced environment where timing is often critical, particularly in the sports industry. Being able to respond quickly and effectively to clients’ requests is essential, even when this means working across time zones, managing jet lag or meeting the intense demands of periods such as the football transfer window. Our clients know they can rely on us for immediate and practical solutions, delivered with precision and care.

Equally important is our commitment to staying constantly updated on regulatory developments, new case law and emerging interpretative trends, both at the national and international levels. The sports law landscape evolves rapidly and providing clients with advice that is not only accurate but also forward-looking is key to maintaining their trust.

We believe that our role goes beyond providing just legal services in a strict sense. We strive to act as true strategic partners, working alongside our clients to help them navigate the challenges of today while anticipating those of tomorrow. This means understanding their commercial and organisational objectives and aligning our legal strategy with their broader goals.

Finally, given the inherently international nature of sport, our practice is accustomed to working across jurisdictions and in multiple languages. Cultural agility is central to our approach: the ability to adapt quickly to different legal systems, business environments and cultural expectations allows us to serve our clients effectively in a global and dynamic context.

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

Technological innovation is profoundly transforming the sports industry and the legal landscape surrounding it. The ongoing digital transformation compels all stakeholders (e.g. clubs, athletes, federations, agents and broadcasters) to understand the regulatory frameworks governing these developments to harness their benefits while remaining fully compliant.

Moreover, the sports industry is rapidly becoming a data-driven ecosystem, where analytics inform decisions at every level.

Athletes and sports organisations are equally benefitting from technological advancements such as wearables and performance-tracking systems, which generate valuable data to improve both sporting and business outcomes. However, it is crucial that these data are managed in compliance with privacy and data protection regulations. Appropriate legal guidance is essential to ensure that the collection and processing of personal and biometric information do not breach existing frameworks.

The consolidation of OTT platforms, the growing use of social media as direct channels for consuming sports content, and the new modes of audience engagement are redefining how fans experience sport, whether through smart, hyper-connected venues equipped with cutting-edge technology, or from home via advanced camera systems, immersive viewing tools and augmented reality devices. These innovations create significant commercial opportunities, but they also raise new legal questions regarding broadcasting rights, data usage and compliance with sports and IP regulations.

Finally, the growing role of artificial intelligence brings with it both opportunities and challenges: AI can streamline operations, enhance analysis and support decision-making for clients and practitioners alike, but its use must be carefully monitored to ensure that data are handled ethically and that information is accurately verified.

The sports industry is also being impacted by the spread of blockchain technologies. Blockchain applications are increasingly being explored across the sports ecosystem to enhance fan engagement, revolutionize sponsorship models, and even enable innovative forms of club ownership and investment. In this regard, House of Doge, the operating entity of the Dogecoin Foundation, has recently acquired a majority stake in Italian football club US Triestina Calcio 1918. Moreover, crypto-related sponsorships have become a major financial driver for professional football: in Italy, Serie A clubs have entered into jersey sponsorship agreements and partnership deals with crypto firms. For example, Inter Milan struck a deal with Gate IO in 2024 to become a jersey sponsor. Meanwhile, Lega Serie A made Crypto.com its official Innovation & Technology Partner, integrating crypto branding into VAR broadcasts and stadium technology. At the same time, blockchain-based fan engagement is transforming how supporters interact with their favourite teams, through platforms like Sorare, or through club-issued NFTs and fan tokens from teams such as Juventus, Roma, and AC Milan, which offer exclusive digital collectibles, voting rights, and immersive experiences for fans worldwide.

In short, technological progress offers remarkable potential for growth and efficiency in sport, provided that clients approach innovation with both ambition and a clear understanding of their regulatory obligations.