By Daily Sports on June 11, 2016

Every athlete needs a lawyer (attorney and solicitor) with the speedy trend of development and modernism in the sports world. One big question is: In all the contracts, in all the bustles and hustles in the busy and economically buoyant sports world, where is the place of the Nigerian lawyer?

Contracts between sportsmen/women and their clubs should be drafted and perfected by lawyers especially in the Nigeria sports corridor. The NPFL, NNL, AFN etc need the services of lawyers in almost all it does to forestall unnecessary conflicts and when conflicts arise to adopt the best means towards the resolution of such conflicts.

A league such as the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) for example, offers an Arbitration Committee in order to resolve disputes arising from the league’s activities. The Committee hears disputes on a variety of matters including player’s transfers, contractual issues and players signing to mention but a few. Very few lawyers (lawyers like Sola Egbeyinka of Falana & Falana Chambers Kelvin Omuojine, Ugwuanyi Malachy, Azubuike Onyedikachi, Okey S. Obi, Onoja Joshua, Johny Ogba and Amobi Ezeaku) appear before this committee and it calls for great worries because of the enormous task at hand.

The aim of regulations in sport must be to ensure that sport operates in a competitive, entertaining and fair environment. The changing nature of sport explains why new regulations are necessary in order to continue achieving these aims.

However, as was demonstrated by Jean-Marc Bosman in 1995, governing bodies and their regulations must also operate within the boundaries of the law. This, coupled with the increased chance of a challenge, explains why the footprint of lawyers in sport is larger than it was once.

The aim of lawyers in this process is therefore to help ensure the aims of regulation are achieved and capable of withstanding challenge from those who are adversely affected. It is also important to remember that lawyers do not (or at least should not) shape the rules of the game, but rather shape the expression of those rules in a way that is effective and legally permissible.

•Amobi Ezeaku, Esq. is the Team Manager of Rangers International FC of Enugu. Your comments and reactions are welcome. Please send to 08038338272, 08158461730 or by e-mail to amobi.ezeaku@yahoo.com; publisher@dailysportsng.com

Source Daily Sports

Posted June 11, 2016

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