BELGIUM Trends and Developments Contributed by: Sven Demeulemeester, Willem-Alexander Devlies and Daan Buylaert, ATFiELD
ing conditions. These CBAs also include regu - lations on contractual stability, work incapacity, agents, club restructurings, etc. Such CBAs can be found in sports such as football and volley - ball. Legal challenges Several high-profile cases have emerged regard - ing the sports federations’ regulatory framework, contract terminations, player transfers and agents, with Belgian and international arbitration courts as well as Belgian and European state courts intervening in cases involving breach of contract claims. In this regard, reference can be made to the recent cases decided by or still pending before the European Court of Justice (CJEU) such as the Diarra case on FIFA’s trans - fer regulations, the Royal Antwerp case on the RBFA’s home-grown player rules and the Sera - ing case on the res judicata effect of CAS deci - sions. Gender equality and women’s sports Belgian sports federations have been actively implementing measures to promote gender equality and enhance women’s sports partici - pation. Notable initiatives include the following. • The Flemish Sports Governance Code – the Flemish Ministry of Sport introduced the “Code of Good Governance” for sports federations, which evaluates federations on principles such as the gender balance within their boards.
• Equal pay in hockey – the Royal Belgian Hockey Federation (RBHF) has made sig - nificant strides toward pay equity. Starting in 2015, the federation has progressively reduced the pay gap between men’s and women’s teams, achieving full equalisation in 2023. This commitment contributed to the women’s team’s historic advancement to the Olympic semifinals. • Support for women in sports leadership – Belgium participates in programmes like the Global Sports Mentoring Program, which empowers women leaders in sports. For example, Caroline Lembe, a Belgian boxing advocate, utilised this platform to promote women’s physical and mental health through boxing. Conclusion Belgian sports law is experiencing rapid chang - es driven by governance reforms, financial reg - ulation, technology advancements and athlete rights’ protections. As the industry continues to grow, legal practitioners and stakeholders must remain vigilant in navigating these evolv - ing legal landscapes. With new legislative initia - tives and emerging legal challenges, Belgium is positioning itself as a leader in European sports law, ensuring a fair, transparent and sustainable sporting environment.
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