Use of salary caps in professional team sports and the restraint of trade doctrine

A salary cap system is presently used by both the AFL and NRL with the stated objective of creating a more even competition. Although the salary cap can be viewed as creating a situation where players are being deliberately underpaid, the author argues that there is overall benefit, even to the players, in having a salary cap in operation. Such benefit includes a more even competition, which then provides for a more stable financial situation for the league and the players, and a more interesting competition\ud for the spectators. The author therefore argues that, after applying the Nordenfelt test, salary caps in professional team sports do represent a reasonable restraint of trade. It is also suggested that the principles of contract law play an important role in protecting the rights of the players