A Comparative Study of Football Disputes Legal Procedure in Spain and Iran

Abstract

[eng] Sports law encompasses a broad array of legal disciplines that impact the sports industry. It addresses issues pertaining to professional and Olympic athletes, as well as those involving youth and amateur sports. The legal landscape in this domain incorporates various fields, including contract law, personal injury law, trademark law, criminal law, and sports administration. Since the inaugural Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece, in 1896, the realm of sports has transcended national boundaries, evolving into a platform that connects nations worldwide. Today, the socio-economic and cultural significance of sports, and consequently sports law, is substantial at both national and international levels. With the growing commercial success of global football, the underlying legal frameworks that support the regulation, governance, and commercialization of the sport have become increasingly complex. This is due in part to the diverse stakeholders involved—governing bodies, leagues, sponsors, broadcasters, clubs, coaches, players, and agents—all seeking to maximize the opportunities presented by the sport's success. The breadth of stakeholders introduces additional layers of complexity to the legal and regulatory environment, prompting new questions and often necessitating the development or modification of existing laws and rules.

Although this dynamic legal ecosystem within football and sports at large indicates a thriving industry, it also reveals numerous unmet legal needs and unanswered questions. This underlines the necessity for in-depth research to address the complexities unique to each stakeholder and area of sports law. In this thesis, I explore the governance structure of Iranian football and compare it with that of Spain, a country with a highly developed legal and sports system.

In the introductory chapter, I provide an overview of the sports systems and a concise history of both Iran and Spain. Chapter Two outlines the court systems and their specific features in each country. Chapters Three and Four examine the governing bodies of Iranian and Spanish football, respectively, highlighting notable cases that shed light on the legal landscape and the challenges faced, particularly in Iran. Chapter Five discusses international football governing bodies and their roles and jurisdictions. Chapter Six explores legal disputes within the sport, while Chapter Seven addresses criminal issues like match-fixing. Chapter Eight, the final chapter, presents discussions and conclusions derived from this comparative study. Through this research, I identify key problems and limitations within the Iranian football legal system. This chapter also offers my opinions and recommendations—grounded in insights from the Spanish system and other comparable jurisdictions—for addressing these issues and enhancing the overall structure of Iranian football governance.