Continuing to build the European Model of Sport

International audienceThe recent European Court of Justice’s Kolpak ruling1 gives us another opportunity to focuson the combination of public law and sporting rules in the sport law matters, particularlyregarding professional sport.Each sporting situation is positioned in the spotlight of different levels of legality. Threegeographical zones may be distinguished: the regional level as, for example, in Italy or Spainwhere Regional Sport Acts exist; the central national level; and the European level whereCommunity law applies.What has changed since 1995 and the famous Bosman ruling2? Although Deliege andLethonen, have confirmed the applicability of the freedom of movement of workers in sport,they also have allowed more flexibility in the application of Community law to sport.Nevertheless, with respect to fair competition, have the sport federations, in the light of theirmonopoly, secured their role in the future of professional sport?As professional sport includes not only sporting and economic, but also cultural and historicaldimensions, a special treatment is needed