June 29, 2024

Surprising Reevaluation of Enforcement of Non-EU Arbitration Awards within EU Territory: Disputes Between CJEU, Swiss Award Review Authority and Arbitrators’ Panels Lead FIFA and CAS to Reconsider Switzerland as Primary Jurisdiction Seat

By Ibrahim Ati On September 8, 2023, the Belgian Court of Cassation initiated a radical shift in established arbitration law by challenging the sovereignty of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and other sports governing bodies when their awards intersect with European Union (EU) law.[1] This move will likely ignite a profound reconsideration of the enforceability and recognition of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) awards within the EU’s legal framework when based even partly on European law elements. At its heart, the pivotal query, for which the RFC Seraing and its legal representatives advocated for years across multiple […]