Legislation is currently making its way through the US Congress, aiming to reform college sports. This cross-party commitment seeks to address issues within the system, with drafted policies covering critical areas such as the pooling of media rights, player eligibility, and transfers.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which regulates inter-collegiate sport, has seen fundamental aspects of its regulatory framework weakened over the past five years. This follows a series of legal actions that challenged its rules on amateurism, athlete movement, and commercialisation of events.
In contrast to the US approach, European courts have frequently struck down sporting regulations, particularly those deemed anti-competitive under single-market competition laws. This has led to concerns among observers regarding the impact on the European model of sport and the level playing field in team sports.
The US political establishment has recognised the challenges facing the NCAA and is attempting to reinstate a sports-specific framework through legislation. This aims to allow the NCAA to function as an effective regulator, with the benefit of exemptions from general US laws not designed for the sports or college sector.