THE BINDING EFFECT OF CAS AWARDS AND THE RIGHT TO EFFECTIVE JUDICIAL PROTECTION IN THE EU: AN ANALYSIS OF RFC SERAING V FIFA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64186/jsp3970Keywords:
Court of Justice of the European Union, Court of Arbitration for Sport, Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Res Judicata, RFC Seraing CaseAbstract
This paper explores developments in RFC Seraing v FIFA, with a particular focus on the autonomy of sports judicial process and the scope of related EU law. A legal documentary study is conducted based on RFC Seraing v FIFA and the awards rendered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). This paper explains that the Judicial Courts in EU Member States cannot automatically treat CAS awards as legally binding. It additionally examines the legitimacy of CAS awards within the EU, including the legal tension between FIFA’s prohibition of third-party ownership (TPO) and EU competition law. Finally, it analyses the crucial precedent of this case that have reshaped FIFA’s judicial process, addressing key legal issues such as the finality of CAS awards under the doctrine of res judicata and the relevant legal challenges. The results indicate that CAS awards may be subject to effective judicial review by courts in EU Member States where EU public policy, as reflected in EU law, is violated.
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