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Navigating the Esports Landscape: Insights on Regulation, Adaptation, and Independence
In a recent interview, prominent sports lawyer Toni Roca delves into the complexities of the esports world and its relationship with traditional sports organizations.
Due to the growth of esports and its professionalization, different regulatory organizations have emerged, and one of the biggest questions in this professionalization process is whether esports should be regulated by organizations that regulate regular sports such as the IOC and FIFA. Toni Roca recently discussed this matter in an interview.
Who is Toni Roca?
Toni Roca is a prominent Spanish lawyer who specializes in sports law. Roca is the director of the Sports Law Institute and an advisor for Himnus Football Lawyers. In addition, he advises clubs, agents, sportsmen and federations on matters including the transfer and contracting of players and dispute resolution before national and international bodies. He has shown his support for changing sports law and in his opinion, esports will develop independently without needing the regulation of organizations such as the IOC or FIFA.
His Take on Esports
He mainly discussed legal issues related to football clubs, but when asked about the future of esports, Roca said that esports should be regarded as a distinct sector with unique characteristics and a trajectory of its own. In his opinion, esports connect better with younger generations. As a consequence, football clubs are compelled to adapt to the evolving landscape of esports.
Additionally, he mentioned that beyond the fact that some play FIFA, the rest of the games are fiction, so it is a mistake to equate esports with the sport we know. He understands the difference between esports and traditional sports. While there might be some intersection when it comes to games like FIFA, now FC 24, due to the separation between FIFA and EA, the vast majority of esports titles are entirely fictional and offer experiences far from conventional sports. Therefore, it’s an oversimplification to equate esports with the sports we are familiar with.
Roca expressed skepticism about the notion that esports necessarily require validation or recognition from established sports organizations like FIFA or the International Olympic Committee to thrive and grow. In his opinion, the success of esports is not contingent on its integration with FIFA or the formal endorsement of the IOC.
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