THE IMPACT OF THE EU ON THE EUROPEAN MODEL OF SPORT

Abstract

ABSTRACT
EU’s primary aim and objective is to achieve further integration within the internal market and to ensure cross border trade between the Member States is not distorted by restrictive measures. The EU requires compliance with its fundamental provisions under the Treaties to reach its aims and objectives. With this mind set, the EU regulates any sector constituting economic activity and affecting cross border trade within the internal market. Initially autonomous self-regulated world of sport faced with a difficult challenge under the organisational structures of the EU towards its traditional values because of growing commercial interests of sport, such as broadcasting and sponsorship.

No sector, including sport, is exempt from the application of EU law. While sport is entitled to have its specificity recognised, this status must be earned. EU and sport are not mutually exclusive. Established case law in the area provides guidance on how EU law is applicable to sporting practices and rules. In line with the established case law, the specificity and autonomy of sport is recognised, but it could not be construed to justify a general exemption from the application of EU law to sport. Nevertheless, defining the boundaries of the European model of sport and the EU law has not been easy. However, with the recent developments in EU sports law it has become clear that the organisational structures of the EU and the European model of sport can co-exist on dual condition of complying with the fundamental provisions of EU law and accepting supervision of the EU through policy and dialogue to achieve European standards of good governance in sport. Currently, European model of sport enjoys supervised conditional autonomy under the organisational structures of the EU.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) model of sport sets an example on the recognition of the autonomy of sport in a deeply divided region within Europe. TRNC is under international isolation and the organisational structures of the EU does not have any impact on the TRNC model of sport. Nevertheless, TRNC model of sport would not have been treated differently than the European model of sport under the organisational structures of the EU.

Date of Award	29 Oct 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Edge Hill University
Supervisor	RICHARD PARRISH (Director of Studies)