Latest news with #StudentCompensationandOpportunitythroughRightsandEndorsements
eNCA
a day ago
- Business
- eNCA
US pro athletes reject antitrust exemptions for college sports
WASHINGTON - Professional players' unions for the five major US sports leagues -- baseball, soccer, basketball, football and hockey -- appealed for American lawmakers to reject antitrust exemptions or legal liability shields in new regulations for college athletes. While compensation for professional players seemingly knows no limit, college athletes in the US have only been allowed to begin profiting from their performance and reputation in recent years. Now, professional players are weighing in as Congress works to develop a national framework for student athlete profit-sharing, with pros saying they felt a duty to protect future union members while they played in college. "Granting an antitrust exemption to the NCAA and its members gives the green light for the organisation and schools to collude and work against student athletes," the unions' statement said. "Historically, antitrust exemptions have been used to set prices, limit wages, and restrict access to opportunities provided by open markets, all while shielding abuse from legal recourse." The joint statement was sent by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA). The US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce is considering the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act after a House settlement last month ensured National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes will receive revenue sharing from their schools for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) profits. In a statement last week Congressman Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, said a national framework governing such profit-sharing was long overdue, and praised the SCORE Act saying it "delivers the stability, clarity and transparency" student athletes and colleges need. A 2021 Supreme Court decision held that the NCAA is subject to antitrust laws. In their joint statement, the players' unions called for transparency and fair dealing. "It is not hard to imagine a situation where NCAA and its members collude to restrict revenue sharing and deny student athletes fair compensation with the confidence of immunity against legal action. Indeed, they have been doing exactly that for decades.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC Sports
Pro sports unions urge Congress not to give antitrust exemptions to colleges
The NCAA and its member institutions have a mess, thanks to decades of corruption that prevented athletes from making money, directly or indirectly. They can either clean it up on their own, or they can run to Congress. For now, they're running to Congress. And the American pro sports unions have aligned to ask Congress not to give the NCAA and its members what they want — an antitrust exemption that would allow them to impose rules regarding matters like player pay and movement. 'Since many of today's college athletes will become our future members, we have a vested interest in ensuring they are protected now,' the unions said in a statement. As the Energy and Commerce Committee considers the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act, the Players Associations strongly urge Committee Members to reject any antitrust exemption or legal liability shield from legislation regulating college athletics,' the unions said. 'Whatever progress the athletes have made has been a result of their use of the antitrust laws. The SCORE Act would take that weapon away from them. . . . Granting an antitrust exemption to the NCAA and its members gives the green light for the organization and schools to collude and work against student athletes. . . . Historically, antitrust exemptions have been used to set prices, limit wages, and restrict access to opportunities provided by open markets, all while shielding abuse from legal recourse. . . . It is not hard to imagine a situation where NCAA and its members collude to restrict revenue sharing and deny student athletes fair compensation with the confidence of immunity against legal action. Indeed, they have been doing exactly that for decades.' Amen to all of that. The NCAA and its members should be expected to solve this problem on their own, without an antitrust exemption from the federal government. Congress should not give them a Hail Mary. They should be required to invite unionization, and to deal with the players on a level playing field.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
US Pro Athletes Reject Antitrust Exemptions For College Sports
Professional players unions for the five major US sports leagues -- baseball, soccer, basketball, football and hockey -- appealed on Monday for American lawmakers to reject antitrust exemptions or legal liability shields in new regulations for college athletes. While compensation for professional players seemingly knows no limit, college athletes in the US have only been allowed to begin profiting from their performance and reputation in recent years. Now, professional players are weighing in as Congress works to develop a national framework for student athlete profit-sharing, with pros saying they felt a duty to protect future union members while they played in college. "Granting an antitrust exemption to the NCAA and its members gives the green light for the organization and schools to collude and work against student athletes," the unions' statement said. "Historically, antitrust exemptions have been used to set prices, limit wages, and restrict access to opportunities provided by open markets, all while shielding abuse from legal recourse." The joint statement was sent by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA), National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA). The US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce is considering the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act after a House settlement last month ensured National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes will receive revenue sharing from their schools for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) profits. In a statement last week Congressman Gus Bilirakis, a Florida Republican, said a national framework governing such profit-sharing was long overdue, and praised the SCORE Act saying it "delivers the stability, clarity and transparency" student athletes and colleges need. A 2021 Supreme Court decision held that the NCAA is subject to antitrust laws. In their joint statement, the players' unions called for transparency and fair-dealing. "It is not hard to imagine a situation where NCAA and its members collude to restrict revenue sharing and deny student athletes fair compensation with the confidence of immunity against legal action. Indeed, they have been doing exactly that for decades. "The NCAA should not have a blank check to impose their will on the financial future of over 500,000 college athletes."
