The relativity of consent in sports arbitration: principle, consequences and limits

Talks / Ideas / Philosophy

Join the SOAS Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Centre for the sports arbitration webinar. Arbitration traditionally derives its legitimacy from the parties’ voluntary agreement to submit disputes to a private adjudicative process. In sports arbitration, consent is often more nuanced; athletes, clubs, and other stakeholders are typically bound by arbitration clauses incorporated into the rules and regulations of sports governing bodies, with participation in organised sport frequently conditioned upon acceptance of those rules. As a result, continued acceptance of sports arbitration depends not solely on consent, but increasingly on the fairness, independence, and integrity of the adjudicative system itself, as illustrated by recent national and international caselaw. Image credit: Scott Graham on Unsplash.

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