𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
(per Billiards Digest Facebook Page)
The clock is ticking on what appears to be an inevitable legal clash between sports promoter Matchroom and the World Pool Association.
In a direct and pointed email prepared by Matchroom Legal Counsel & Director Jai Singh and distributed on Dec. 12 to more than 70 World Nineball Tour players (both current and currently playing in only WPA events), promoters and federations, Matchroom accused the WPA of abusing its authority with player bans enforced following the Hanoi Open and demanded that WPA lift its “arbitrary” player bans by Dec. 19. If the WPA fails to lift the bans by that date, the email said, Matchroom “reserves the right to take any action necessary to protect our rights and the rights of the players.”
Singh’s email, obtained by Billiards Digest from several reputable sources, goes into great detail drawing the WPA’s attention to a judgement handed down in what it deems to be a similar case — that of the International Skating Union (ISU), which had barred skaters from participating in third party-promoted events.
“The ISU case is a significant case as it pertains to competition law, as it addresses the extent to which a SGB (sports governing body) can restrict athletes from participating in non-sanctioned events,” Singh wrote in his email.
In the international skating case, a pair of speed skaters, facing lifetime bans for participating in an unsanctioned event, challenged the rulings of the ISU, and the case went to the European Union’s highest court, the European Court of Justice. In December 2023, the court determined that the ISU rules “infringe on EU law,” further stating that the ISU rules “have the object of restricting competition to the detriment, in particular, of athletes, consumers and audiences.”
Like the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), of which the WPA is a branch, is to cue sports, the ISU is the only skating federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
The EU’s top court claimed the ISU’s powers “are unlawful because they are not subject to any guarantee ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
According to Matchroom counsel, the EU court concluded that the ISU:
— held a dominant position in the market for international speed skating competitions. As such, the CJEU determined that the ISU could not use its influence to block skaters from non-ISU events, as it would unduly restrict athletes’ freedom to compete and prevent new entrants from organising events.
— violated competition law, (in this case specifically EU law) because they restricted athletes’ opportunities and stifled competition. Such restrictions limited market access for third-party event organisers and discouraged innovation and competition in the industry
— failed to provide adequate justifications for its restrictions. Although the ISU argued that the sanctions were necessary for maintaining the integrity and safety of the sport, the court concluded that the rules were excessively restrictive and went beyond what was necessary to achieve these aims.
The Matchroom email was in response to a WPA demand for dates of the 2025 World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia, with the WPA citing arcane sanction application requirements and demanding response within seven days. The WPA’s email was delivered during the Mosconi Cup. It has long been speculated that the world governing body’s endgame is to regain the rights to the annual world 9-ball championship, but to do so would require a breach in Matchroom’s contract for the event. Matchroom Pool acquired the rights “in perpetuity” to the event in January 2020. In 2024, the $1,000,000 WPC featured the top 100 World Nineball Tour (WNT) players, with the “sanctioning” WPA receiving just four wildcard slots. With the majority of the WNT’s top 100 now banned from WPA events, the legal tightrope over Matchroom’s contract with the WPA for the event appears to be the centerpiece of contention between the parties.
“We put the WPA on firm notice,” Singh wrote, “that the Championship will feature the top WNT ranking professionals, and any attempt by the WPA to uphold or issue bans for those players competing in the 2025 Championship will be rejected at the outset and challenged under the laws of England and Wales as the governing jurisdiction of the ETRA (Event Transfer Rights Agreement) with reference to the ISU judgement.”
BD has reached out to the WPA for response.
(per Billiards Digest Facebook Page)
The clock is ticking on what appears to be an inevitable legal clash between sports promoter Matchroom and the World Pool Association.
In a direct and pointed email prepared by Matchroom Legal Counsel & Director Jai Singh and distributed on Dec. 12 to more than 70 World Nineball Tour players (both current and currently playing in only WPA events), promoters and federations, Matchroom accused the WPA of abusing its authority with player bans enforced following the Hanoi Open and demanded that WPA lift its “arbitrary” player bans by Dec. 19. If the WPA fails to lift the bans by that date, the email said, Matchroom “reserves the right to take any action necessary to protect our rights and the rights of the players.”
Singh’s email, obtained by Billiards Digest from several reputable sources, goes into great detail drawing the WPA’s attention to a judgement handed down in what it deems to be a similar case — that of the International Skating Union (ISU), which had barred skaters from participating in third party-promoted events.
“The ISU case is a significant case as it pertains to competition law, as it addresses the extent to which a SGB (sports governing body) can restrict athletes from participating in non-sanctioned events,” Singh wrote in his email.
In the international skating case, a pair of speed skaters, facing lifetime bans for participating in an unsanctioned event, challenged the rulings of the ISU, and the case went to the European Union’s highest court, the European Court of Justice. In December 2023, the court determined that the ISU rules “infringe on EU law,” further stating that the ISU rules “have the object of restricting competition to the detriment, in particular, of athletes, consumers and audiences.”
Like the World Confederation of Billiard Sports (WCBS), of which the WPA is a branch, is to cue sports, the ISU is the only skating federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
The EU’s top court claimed the ISU’s powers “are unlawful because they are not subject to any guarantee ensuring that they are transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and proportionate.”
According to Matchroom counsel, the EU court concluded that the ISU:
— held a dominant position in the market for international speed skating competitions. As such, the CJEU determined that the ISU could not use its influence to block skaters from non-ISU events, as it would unduly restrict athletes’ freedom to compete and prevent new entrants from organising events.
— violated competition law, (in this case specifically EU law) because they restricted athletes’ opportunities and stifled competition. Such restrictions limited market access for third-party event organisers and discouraged innovation and competition in the industry
— failed to provide adequate justifications for its restrictions. Although the ISU argued that the sanctions were necessary for maintaining the integrity and safety of the sport, the court concluded that the rules were excessively restrictive and went beyond what was necessary to achieve these aims.
The Matchroom email was in response to a WPA demand for dates of the 2025 World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia, with the WPA citing arcane sanction application requirements and demanding response within seven days. The WPA’s email was delivered during the Mosconi Cup. It has long been speculated that the world governing body’s endgame is to regain the rights to the annual world 9-ball championship, but to do so would require a breach in Matchroom’s contract for the event. Matchroom Pool acquired the rights “in perpetuity” to the event in January 2020. In 2024, the $1,000,000 WPC featured the top 100 World Nineball Tour (WNT) players, with the “sanctioning” WPA receiving just four wildcard slots. With the majority of the WNT’s top 100 now banned from WPA events, the legal tightrope over Matchroom’s contract with the WPA for the event appears to be the centerpiece of contention between the parties.
“We put the WPA on firm notice,” Singh wrote, “that the Championship will feature the top WNT ranking professionals, and any attempt by the WPA to uphold or issue bans for those players competing in the 2025 Championship will be rejected at the outset and challenged under the laws of England and Wales as the governing jurisdiction of the ETRA (Event Transfer Rights Agreement) with reference to the ISU judgement.”
BD has reached out to the WPA for response.
