Professional sports league as a capital company - the case of Polish Ekstraklasa
Аннотация
The aim of this article is to analyse the legal regulations of a professional sports league on the case of the Ekstraklasa, a joint-stock company managing the highest level of football competition in Poland. The basic research method used in the article is a dogmatic-legal analysis focused on Polish law and internal regulations of the Polish Football Association (PZPN). The study also utilizes a legal-comparative method to demonstrate differences and similarities with selected solutions adopted in the English, US and German leagues. Additionally, a case study is applied to illustrate the structure of the Ekstraklasa as a company. The research problem focuses on the relationships between the shareholders, which include the PZPN and the sports clubs whose teams are entitled to participate in the Ekstraklasa. The article characterises the rights and obligations of the different groups of shareholders participating in the Ekstraklasa. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that despite the equal status of the shareholders, PZPN has a dominant position and can create the rights and obligations of the other shareholders.
Ключевые слова:
sports law, legal structure, football federation, capital companyБиблиографические ссылки
Literature Google Scholar
Bączyk J., Prawne aspekty działalności gospodarczej w ruchu sportowym, Katowice 2018. Google Scholar
Bank S., Will U.S. soccer be forced to adopt promotion and relegation?, „Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport” 2018 Vol. 28, No. 1. Google Scholar
Baszczyk M., Prawo opcji oraz konstrukcje na nim oparte, „Monitor Prawniczy” 2020, No. 2. Google Scholar
Cajsel W., Sportowa Spółka Akcyjna – szczególny rodzaj spółki kapitałowej, „Sport Wyczynowy” 2001, No. 7–8. Google Scholar
Conerty T., Promotion and relegation as a solution to Major League Soccer’s anticompetitive closed model, „Sports Lawyers Journal” 2020, Vol. 27, No. 1. Google Scholar
Dumkiewicz M., Commentary on Article 303, [in:] eadem, Kodeks spółek handlowych. Komentarz, 2020, Lex. Google Scholar
Frąckowiak J., Kidyba A., Kidyba S., Popiołek W., Spółka akcyjna, [in:] A. Szumański (ed.), Prawo spółek handlowych, series: System Prawa Handlowego, Vol. 2B, 2019, Legalis. Google Scholar
Grabowski A., Zasady konstytuujące Waltera Euckena a ramy instytucjonalno-prawne sektora niemieckich przedsiębiorstw sportowych, „Studia Ekonomiczne Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Katowicach. Współczesna gospodarka – wyzwania, dylematy, perspektywy rozwoju” 2020, No. 93. Google Scholar
Kidyba A., Prawo handlowe, Warsaw 2022. Google Scholar
Krzesiak E., Kluby i organizacje sportowe w prawie polskim. Na tle rozwiązań zagranicznych, 2016, Lex. Google Scholar
Nagy Z., The role of legal forms in professional football, „Acta Polytechnica Hungarica” 2013, Vol. 10, No. 4. Google Scholar
O’Leary L., Employment and labour relations law in the Premier League, NBA and International Rugby Union, Hague 2017. Google Scholar
Pabis R., Commentary on Article 338, [in:] Z. Jara (ed.), Kodeks spółek handlowych. Komentarz, 2023, Legalis. Google Scholar
Tittenbrun J., Pieniądz kręci piłką. Stosunki ekonomiczno-własnościowe w futbolu, Warsaw 2016. Google Scholar
Legal acts Google Scholar
Act of 15 September 2000 Commercial Partnerships and Companies Code (consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2024, item 18). Google Scholar
Act on Sports of 25 June 2010 (consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2024, item 1488). Google Scholar
Act on the Acquisition of Real Estate by Foreigners of 24 March 1920 (consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2017, item 2278). Google Scholar
Internet sources Google Scholar
https://www.ekstraklasa.org/aktualnosci/20381/wyplaty-z-ekstraklasy-za-sezon-2024-25-przekroczyly-300-mln-zl. Google Scholar
https://www.ekstraklasa.org/ekstraklasa. Google Scholar
https://www.ekstraklasa.org/historia-ekstraklasy. Google Scholar
Podręcznik licencyjny Ekstraklasy na sezon 2025/2026 i następne, https://pzpn.pl/public/system/files/site_content/635/6489-Podrecznik%20Licencyjny%20dla%20Klub%C3%B3w%20Ekstraklasy%20na%20sezon%202025_2026.pdf. Google Scholar
Regulations for Ekstraklasa football matches for the 2025/2026 season and beyond, https://pzpn.pl/public/system/files/site_content/635/6617-Sprawozdanie%20z%20posiedzenia%20Zarz%C4%85du%20III.2025.pdf. Google Scholar
