A top quality defence team has now been appointed by FIWFA, the World Governing Body for Walking Football in their David & Goliath battle with FIFA.
Led by Nick De Marco QC, renowned as the leading QC in Sports Law, the team includes a top Intellectual Property (IP) Solicitor from London firm Sheridans, and an experienced IP Barrister from the specialist IP chambers Three New Square.
Nick De Marco is often referred to as the Lionel Messi of Sports Law. He regularly acts for sport’s governing bodies, players, clubs, sponsors, broadcasters, and agents.
He has appeared for sports bodies in the UK Courts and before most of the sporting tribunals, and his clients have included UK Sport, UK Athletics, UK Anti-Doping, the Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association, the British Board of Boxing Control, the Professional Footballer s Association, The England & Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football Union, The Ryder Cup, The London Marathon, and Manchester United football club as well as half the other Premier league clubs. He has also acted for Joey Barton, Andre Arshavin, Jimmy Bullard, Gabriel Heinze, Adrian Mutu, John Obi Mikel as well as many other football players and Formula 1 participants. Nick is also author of the legal text book “Football and the Law”.
Paul Carr, FIWFA’s Chief Executive, commented “I think FIFA have scored an own goal here, as they have with their new handball rule fiasco in the world of football. On the one hand they recognise us as the World’s Governing body for Walking Football and also state their support for our altruistic and life-saving activities. On the other hand, they attack us by fabricating a confusion that simply does not exist. This is incongruous behaviour.”
With such a fantastic stellar team in place, it remains to be seen whether FIFA will continue with their disproportionate claims.
For more information please contact paulcarr@fiwfa.co.uk
