Der Status des Profifußballers im Europäischen Recht

The work examines the Status of a Professional Footballer under European Law and unfolds to what extent it is restricted by the associations. It analyzes the rights granted to the players by the legal system of the European Union and develops guiding principles of the football. The focus is laid on the tension between private legislation being the core element of self-regulation and the antagonistic, legally protected player’s interests. It is examined whether Nationality Clauses, Transfer Regulations, the Salary Cap of the Premier League and the Financial Fairplay infringes upon European Union Law, being designated to protect the players, or whether the objective behind the respective provision is taking into account the conflicting interests of the associations on the one hand and those of the players on the other hand. In particular potential breaches of the Fundamental Freedoms, the European Fundamental Rights and the European Antitrust Law are analyzed in this regard.