APPRAISAL OF THE ROLE OF COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORTS IN THE RESOLUTION OF SPORTS DISPUTES IN NIGERIA

The growth of sport over the years and its increased significance in the world today has led to proportional increase in sports related-disputes. Aside from revenue, the rise in sports disputes can be attributed to the existence of different sporting relationships, high-grade technologies, universality and prominence of sporting activities in the world. The attempts to have a unified code, rule, structure, organ and sporting federations have also led to a highly regulated sporting regime in the world. In Nigeria, sport has become a dominant social, entertaining and recreational event that has influence on the peace, economy, unity and development of the country despite the existence of several diversities. Sports have also been used in Nigeria for health development and in curbing the fight against social problems and vices. The growth of sport in Nigeria equally saw a proportional rise in disputes within the sporting industry in Nigeria. There are various disputes that exist in the sporting industry in Nigeria ranging from doping, leadership crisis, qualification and nonqualification for tournaments, officiating, discipline, code of conducts, interpretation of sport statutes, marketing, contracts, labour and industrial relationships especially complaints of discrimination, wrongful discharge or termination, workers' compensation, wages, salaries, bonuses, occupational safety disputes, breach of contracts, alleged violations of administrative policies on performance evaluation, supervision, or assignment of duties and communication problems in the chain of command. Traditionally in Nigeria, resorts are made to the ordinary courts for litigation. However, over the years litigation have become stressful, uncertain, time delaying and most limes defeating the aim why disputes were brought before the court in the first place. Thus, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) was established with the basic aim of taking international sports disputes out of national and municipal courts. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is meant to provide a highly specialized forum where sports disputes could be adjudicated quickly, inexpensively and according to flexible procedure. The CAS is a global arbitral institution that is devoted to resolving disputes that are directly and indirectly associated with sports. It has become one of the widely recognized and respected sport decision bodies in the world of sports today. This study will undertake the doctrinal approach of research, also employing the historical, effectiveness and competiveness techniques of research. This research will reveal some of the challenges that Nigerians have faced and are likely to face in a bid to access the CAS. Recommendations will be made demanding as a matter of urgency, the establishment of operational national and local sports dispute resolution chambers, to attend to the growing disputes currently bedevilling the Nigerian sports sector; and an outcry to the International Council of Arbitration for Sports (ICAS) to establish at least a branch of the CAS in Nigeria.