Prof. Dr. Jan F. Orth LL.M.

Inhaltsübersicht – Zeitschrift für Sport und Recht – Heft 2/2026

Das Heft 2/2026 der SpuRt wird postalisch in der 11. KW zugestellt und ist seit dem 10.03.2026 im Modul Sportrecht plus auf Beck-Online abrufbar.

Editorial

• Maximale Emotionen (J. F. Orth, S. 113)

Abhandlungen 

• Geldwäscheprävention in Profifußballvereinen: Neue gesetzliche Pflichten, neue Verantwortung (F. Hildebrand / N. Gittfried / P.-S. Schulz, S. 114) — hier zum Download im Volltext als kostenlose Leseprobe!

The article discusses the new regulatory obligations for professional football clubs in Europe concerning money laundering prevention, set to take effect in July 2029 under the EU-Anti-Money Laundering Regulation. It highlights the financial magnitude of the football industry, with international transfers reaching 8.6 billion US-Dollars in 2024, and identifies the sector’s vulnerability to financial crimes due to high transaction volumes, subjective pricing, and complex international actor networks. The article outlines existing compliance standards, noting that while FIFA, UEFA, and national federations have ethical codes, they lack explicit money laundering prevention measures. It also examines the risks associated with player transfers, sponsorships, and investments into clubs, emphasizing the potential for suspicious funds to be laundered through these channels. The article details the new obligations for clubs, including appointing compliance managers and money laundering officers, conducting risk assessments, and implementing due diligence measures for business partners. It acknowledges the challenges clubs may face, such as resource constraints and the need for specialized expert staff. The article concludes with recommendations for clubs to proactively establish compliance structures and leverage existing football networks to develop best practices, while also considering the potential competitive disadvantages compared to non-European clubs not subject to these new EU regulations.

• Zum Erfordernis einer kohärenten Verfolgung legitimer Zielsetzungen im Sinne des Drei-Stufen-Tests im (Sport-)Kartellrecht (P. W. Heermann, S. 125)

Continuing on from the article by Göhsl/Scheuch, SpuRt 2025, 328, the following article examines the new antitrust aspect on which the German Federal Cartel Office, according to its press release of 16 June 2025, has – so far – rejected the request of the German Football League (DFL) under Section 32c GWB. In contrast to the DFL’s legal opinion, the Federal Cartel Office has determined that the 50+1 rule is incompatible with EU antitrust law because the public interest objectives pursued by the rule (‘association character and member participation’) are not implemented ‘consistently and systematically’. This article examines the origin of this coherence criterion, integrates it in the light of ECJ case law and academic literature in the so-called three-step test, and determines the standard by which the coherence of the pursuit of legitimate objectives should be assessed.

• Freispruch im „DFB-Bandenwerbungs-Verfahren“ (K. Fehn / J. Fehn, S. 131)

The article discusses the acquittal of Dr. Stephan Osnabrügge, former treasurer of the German Football Association (DFB), by the Frankfurt Regional Court in a case concerning alleged tax evasion related to advertising revenue. The court found that the revenue from advertising rights was fully disclosed and the issue was a legal interpretation of tax law, not a factual misrepresentation. The prosecution’s case was based on a changed legal interpretation, which the court ruled could not constitute tax evasion under § 370 of the German Fiscal Code. The article criticizes the prosecution’s approach, highlighting the excessive and public nature of the investigation, including a large-scale raid on the DFB’s offices. It also questions the objectivity of the prosecution, noting instances of alleged pressure on witnesses and alterations to audit reports. The article emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between tax law interpretation and criminal liability, arguing that the case should have been resolved without criminal charges. It concludes by stressing the need for restraint in prosecuting complex tax matters and praises Dr. Osnabrügge and the DFB for resisting pressure to settle the case. The article serves as a cautionary tale against using criminal proceedings to resolve tax disputes and underscores the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between tax law and criminal law.

• Bringt die EU den Markt für Sportübertragungsrechte zum Absturz? (M. Frank / B. Striebel, S. 139)

In recent years, the European Court of Justice has repeatedly set limits on the sports community. Yet, the practical repercussions of its judgments in Super League, ISU, Royal Antwerp, Diarra and Seraing have, to date, remained largely contained. The pending reference for a preliminary ruling concerning the consumer-law right of withdrawal in relation to streaming services, however, may prove to be of a different order. Should the CJEU follow the position advanced by the European Commission, according to which consumers may withdraw from a streaming subscription even after having accessed sports content, the consequences for the market for sports broadcasting rights could be profound. Such an interpretation would not only destabilize existing business models but could also jeopardize a central pillar of sports financing. Against this backdrop, the first part of the article outlines the European Union’s regulatory and policy perspective on streaming. The second part analyses the legal questions raised and their economic implications, with particular regard to the Austrian proceedings that gave rise to the reference. Part three evaluates the issues in light of the applicable framework of EU secondary legislation.

• Nach dem Urteil ist vor der Klärung – Offene Rechtsfragen nach der Hochrisikospiel-Entscheidung des BVerfG (C. Schoppe / F. Bonde / P. Ziemons, S. 145)

In its judgment of January 14, 2025 (1 BvR 548/22), the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the State of Bremen is constitutionally permitted to require commercial sports event organizers to contribute to police costs under specific conditions. Such contribution is only permissible when police services can be individually attributed to the organizer. Although the decision confirms the constitutional validity of Bremen’s fee regulation, numerous follow-up questions remain unresolved, especially regarding the scope of the principle of causation. This article explores whether police measures taken in the broader context of an event, such as fan marches or demonstrations, may also be subject to charges and whether preventive measures such as spectator bans may reduce or eliminate the obligation to pay.

• Arbeitsverhältnis klar im Abseits: Warum Schiedsrichter keine Arbeitnehmer sind (J. Kamann, S. 135)

The article discusses a decision by the Federal Labor Court (BAG) on December 3, 2025, which ruled that assistant referees in Germany’s 3rd football league are not employees of the DFB Schiri GmbH. The court found that these referees are not in a position of personal dependency as they can choose which games to officiate and are paid per game rather than receiving a fixed salary. The decision highlights the distinction between employees and independent contractors, emphasizing the referees“ autonomy in accepting assignments and their professional independence during games. The article notes that some critics argue the decision might not apply to referees in the 1st and 2nd leagues due to factors like the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and fixed payments, which could imply employee-like control. However, the author disagrees, asserting that the key factor is the referees“ freedom to accept or decline assignments, not the league level or payment structure. The article concludes that the BAG’s decision is sound and extends beyond the 3rd league, as it focuses on the contractual freedom and lack of employer-like control, rather than market monopoly or technical assistance.

• Zwischenruf: Lindsey Vonn – Der Sturz in die Falle des transhumanen Siegesrausches (R. Benedikter, S. 114)

The article takes the crash of alpine skier Lindsey Vonn at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games as a starting point for a broader reflection on ethical and legal developments in modern elite sport. The author interprets the incident as a symptom of a sport culture increasingly shaped by transhumanist ideas and neoliberal narratives of limitless performance. In such a framework, the athlete’s body risks being treated as a replaceable instrument for success. The case illustrates how athletes, advisers and sports organizations operate within structures that encourage selfoptimization at the expense of bodily integrity. The article argues that current sports law mainly regulates procedural aspects of competition while lacking effective ethical safeguards. It therefore proposes reforms such as independent medical veto powers, ethics committees and greater transparency regarding injury risks. The aim is a concept of sports law that protects athletes while acknowledging their public role-model function.

Rechtsprechung

Kurzübersicht (S. 159)

Internationales

• EGMR: EMRK-Konformität der Schiedsgerichte im türkischen Volleyball (S. 159)
• EGMR: EMRK-Konformität der Schiedsgerichte im türkischen Fußball (S. 165)
• EuGH: Streamingdienste keine „digitalen Inhalte“ i.S.d Verbraucherrechte-RL (S. 168)
• ÖOGH: Österreich: Lootboxen in FIFA sind kein Glücksspiel (S. 172)
• ÖOGH: Österreich: Sportanlage und Nachbarimmissionen (S. 176)
• ÖVwGH: Österreich: Pyrotechnikverbot – örtlicher Zusammenhang nur in unmittelbarer Stadionnähe (S. 179)
• Consiglio di Stato (Italien): Altersgrenze als Merkmal des Begriffs „Wettkampfsport“ im italienischen Jugendfußball (S. 182) CAS: Disqualifikation von Vladyslav Heraskevych (Olympische Winterspiele 2026) (S. 188)

Arbeitsgerichtsbarkeit

• ArbG Frankfurt a.M.: Fristlose Kündigung eines Headcoachs in der Basketball-Bundesliga (S. 207)

Verbandsgerichtsbarkeit

• DFB-Bundesgericht: Unsportliches Verhalten ohne nachweisbare Spielmanipulation – „Flachserei“ im Trainerteam (S. 211)

Schaufenster

• García/Smokvina: The European Model of Sport. Myth or Reality? (Rez. J. Kornbeck, S. 214)
• Galli/Breuer/Cherkeh/Keller: Sportmanagement (Rez. J. F. Orth, S. 214)