At a time when African football is facing major challenges (ranging from the governance of clubs and academies to player contracts, as well as issues related to financing, sponsorship, and broadcasting rights) this event brought together legal professionals, club executives, sports agents, and institutional experts for in-depth discussions aimed at strengthening the legal framework of sport across the continent. The exchanges explored not only the application of existing legal standards but also future perspectives for the sustainable professionalization of African football.

The partnership with Prof. Karim Adyel, a leading figure in international sports law and an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS/CAS), further enhanced the academic and strategic dimension of the event. His contribution highlighted the importance of solid legal expertise in addressing the profound transformations affecting African football, particularly at a time when the sport is becoming both a major economic force and a vehicle for social and cultural integration.

Through rich and constructive debates, this second edition of the JDFA emphasized the need for stronger cooperation between legal practitioners, sports institutions, and economic stakeholders, in order to build an environment in which the law is no longer seen as a mere constraint, but as a genuine driver of development and transparency for African football.

Held under the theme “Sport and Ethics: Cross Perspectives (Challenges, Issues and Outlines of Solutions)”, the colloquium aimed to examine the growing ethical concerns affecting modern sport and to explore sustainable solutions grounded in ethical principles, sound governance and legal compliance. Discussions focused in particular on doping, corruption, sports betting, governance of sports organisations, and the accountability of stakeholders within the sporting ecosystem.

Over the course of three days, the colloquium featured thematic panels, scholarly presentations and interactive debates. The first day was devoted to the conceptual, historical and legal foundations of ethics in sport, highlighting the intrinsic link between sporting practice and moral values. Speakers emphasised that ethics remains a cornerstone for preserving the credibility, integrity and social role of sport.

The second day addressed ethics in sports management and governance, with in-depth analyses of leadership practices, transparency requirements, institutional responsibility and mechanisms for preventing ethical misconduct within sports organisations, both at professional and grassroots levels.

The third day focused on ethics in the regulation of sporting activities and the role of sports jurisdictions. Participants examined existing regulatory frameworks, disciplinary mechanisms, and the challenges associated with enforcing ethical standards in national and international sports law.

The colloquium brought together academics, lawyers, judges, institutional representatives, sports administrators and practitioners, fostering a rich dialogue between theory and practice. The exchanges led to concrete recommendations aimed at promoting a more ethical, fair and effectively regulated sporting environment.

Through this initiative, NOUYADJAM & ASSOCIATES reaffirms its position as a leading actor in the advancement of sports law, ethical governance, and scientific debate in Africa, contributing to the strengthening of integrity and good governance standards within the sports sector.

The 3rd edition of the International Multidisciplinary Colloquium on Sports Law has come to a close! Spanning three days, this event welcomed several hundred participants from various professional fields, including delegations from Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as a high-level panel of experts comprising renowned administrative, academic, and professional authorities.

Nouyadjam & Associates Law Firm, specializing in sports law and other areas, wisely chose the theme “Sport and Ethics: Cross Perspectives” for this edition, in response to the resurgence of ethics and the current scandals shaking the sports world.

The first day kicked off with a bang, starting with the registration and welcome of participants, followed by an opening ceremony that included the performance of the national anthem, a welcome address by Barrister Jean Jacques NOUYADJAM, Founder and Shaper of Nouyadjam & Associates Law Firm, and a presentation of the theme by Professor Gaëtan Thierry FOUMENA, Scientific Coordinator. This rich day also featured a book review of the proceedings from the previous conference proposed by Dr. OUMAROU TADO, thought-provoking speeches by the President of the Bar Association, the President of the CNOSC, and the representative of the Minister of Sports, culminating in a convivial group photo. The day concluded with an inaugural lecture by Professor LEKA ESSOMBA Armand, followed by the first panel on “The Indissociability of Sport and Ethics,” with fascinating sub-themes presented by Dr. NGONO Basile, Dr. EKOTO Julien, and Mr. Stéphane MINTO’O TSASSE, and a day report by Professor MBEM LISSOUCK Blaise.

The second day dove straight into the second panel on “Ethics in Sports Management and Governance,” chaired by Professor Gaëtan Thierry FOUMENA. This panel was divided into three dynamic sub-panels, with the first two sub-panels each featuring five sub-themes presented by experts, teachers, and professionals from various fields, followed by Q&A sessions. In the afternoon, under the chairmanship of Professor NKOULOU Yannick Serge, the third sub-panel addressed four themes, followed by Q&A sessions. The day concluded with a report on the day’s activities by Professor NGOUNMEDJE Firmin Mirabo.

The final day highlighted Panel III on “Ethics in the Regulation of Sports Organizations and Jurisdictions,” divided into three sub-panels. The first sub-panel, chaired by Professor Monique Aimée MOUTHIEU Epse NJANDEU, examined the regulation of ethics in sports organizations through four sub-themes. The second sub-panel, under the chairmanship of Professor MONEBOULOU MINKADA Hervé Magloire, focused on the repression of ethics in sports organizations, also with four sub-themes. The third sub-panel, chaired by Professor Alex François TJOUEN, expertly addressed ethics before sports jurisdictions, with three sub-themes. The day’s report was presented by Professor WANDJI KAMGA Alain Douglas, and the general report of the conference by Professor TSASSE SAHA Grégory Gislain. The official closing was ensured by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Professor Narcisse MOUELLE KOMBI.

As Barrister Jean Jacques NOUYADJAM promised, _the tradition will be perpetuated!_

HERE IS THE PHOTO GALLERY

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The activities of this day were focused on training and awareness-raising dedicated to football stakeholders and legal professionals.

“Nous allons déjà travailler à faire de cette journée du football africain une activité pérenne […] à la création d’un nouvel écosystème de professionnels du droit du football en Afrique, […] par la mise sur pied d’une structure et l’organisation de diverses activités de formation et de renforcement des capacités en droit du football sur le continent.” Me Jean Jacques NOUYADJAM, Avocat au Barreau du Cameroun, Fondateur et gérant du Cabinet d’Avocats NOUYADJAM & ASSOCIATES.

With the development of football in Africa and the complexity of the socio-economic and legal issues of this sport, The Football Day in Africa aimed to participate in the ability building of football stakeholders and legal professionals in Africa on issues related to football law.

Congratulations to Barrister NGADI Francis, partner of the law firm NOUYADJAM & ASSOCIATION, who, as master of ceremonies, perfectly enlivened the said day.

A really huge thanks to Mr. Evrard NTCHUISSI, Lawyer at the Cameroon and Paris Bars and Member of the Cameroonian Association of Sports Law Lawyers, who brilliantly moderated the panels during the African Football Law Day 2024.