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ARTICLE · 29 JUNE 2021

Supreme Court Issues Highly Anticipated Decision In NCAA Antitrust Suit

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The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules restricting student-athletes educational benefits ...

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Stephen J. Kastenberg
Stephen J. Kastenberg
Elizabeth Wingfield
Elizabeth Wingfield
Marcel S. Pratt
Marcel S. Pratt
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Summary

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules restricting student-athletes educational benefits are not entitled to deference under the antitrust laws and are subject to antitrust scrutiny under a "rule-of-reason" analysis. The Court upheld the trial court injunction against NCAA rules limiting the education-related benefits schools may offer student-athletes-such as rules that prohibit schools from offering graduate or vocational school scholarships. Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurrence cautioned that while the decision only considered NCAA restrictions on educational benefits, under its reasoning there are "serious questions" regarding whether the NCAA's remaining restrictions on non-educational compensation are permissible under antitrust laws.

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