Perspectives on the “Field of Play” Doctrine in Sports Law

Abstract

The "field of play" doctrine constitutes a fundamental principle of  protection of autonomy of judges, referees, or umpires during a sports competition and is viewed as an essential protection of finality of their autonomous decisions on the fields. This doctrine, which encompasses significant values associated with fairness in sports games, is core to the sports justice for protecting autonomous powers of judges, referees, or umpires during a sports competition. The contribution of these values to autonomy of judges, referees, or umpires has been established by the lex ludica (law of the game) and lex sportiva (rules and regulations of global sports). Main dispute-resolution bodies in various sports jurisdictions generally refuse to overturn on-field decisions by referees, umpires, or judges (such as fouls, point deductions, or disqualifications) unless athletes and teams clearly prove bias, unfair, bad faith, arbitrariness, or a gross legal error. However, they sometimes serve as the guardians of "field of play" doctrine by ensuring that all autonomous decisions on the fields strictly adhere to the foundational principles of this doctrine. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) also protects this doctrine by acting as the ultimate guardian of finality of their autonomous decisions in the fields