NASL, Pinsent Masons and AFC Bournemouth to Debate Finance and Regulation at Soccerex Americas Forum

October 20, 2014

Soccerex is excited to confirm that a panel of industry experts will be debating ‘The Finance and Regulation of Football’ on the second day of the Soccerex Americas Forum taking place at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) in Barbados on 21st and 22nd October.

Whether it is commercial rights, cure Financial Fair Play initiatives or youth academy quotas, medic the commercial side of football, bronchi in many ways, is in the hands of the game’s regulatory bodies. 

The issues arising from such governance will be addressed in the debate that will feature the experience and knowledge of Daniel Cravo lawyer for SC International and Fluminense FC, Bill Peterson CEO of the North American Soccer League (NASL), Trevor Watkins Global Head of Sport at Pinsent Masons and Jeff Mostyn, Chairman of AFC Bournemouth & FA Council Member.

Cravo is a highly respected sports lawyer who, in addition to being the legal representative for Fluminense FC and SC International, represented the Uruguayan FA in the controversial Luis Suarez case that rocked the 2014 FIFA World Cup. 

Given the highly complex nature of transfer activity in much of South America, Cravo’s insight on contentious issues such as third party ownership will make for great debate during the discussion.

US soccer has experienced an exceptional rise in recent years and can now boast an emerging national side as well as a growing domestic game with both the MLS and the NASL, with brands such as New York Cosmos, establishing themselves within the global game. Peterson has been highly influential in the expansion of the NASL since becoming the Commissioner of the league in 2012 and has laid out plans to continue the league’s growth to 18 teams by 2018. 

Having previously held executive positions at NFL Europe and USA Cycling, Peterson has a real breadth of knowledge on the business side of sport.

The only lawyer to win a BBC South Sports Personality of the Year award having rescued his boyhood club, AFC Bournemouth, from relegation, Watkins is now Head of Global Sport at Pinsent Masons and a ‘go to’ advisor for some of the industry’s biggest firms. 

Recognised as one of the World’s top 20 sports lawyers by Sports Business International, his list of clients include Manchester City FC, the FA and Wembley National Stadium.

As current Chairman of Bournemouth, Mostyn, who previously held the position in 2007, knows all about the trials and tribulations of running a football club after funding the club’s administration process in 2008 and now, under the ownership of Russian Businessman Maxim Demin, is masterminding Bournemouth’s ambitions for promotion to the Premier League.

Mostyn is also a member of the FA Council and the FA Youth Committee.

Soccerex CEO Duncan Revie commented: “We are delighted to welcome four industry leaders to this exciting debate.  With such a variety and breadth of knowledge across the panel there will undoubtedly be some fascinating discussion on some of the most pertinent issues in the game.”

Cravo, Peterson, Watkins and Mostyn are the latest leaders confirmed to speak at the Americas Forum with high profile names such as CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, MLS Medical Coordinator John Gallucci, New York Red Bulls Head Team Physician Dr. Riley J. Williams and FIFA & CONCACAF ExCo member Sonia Bien-Anne joining former Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson amongst many others.

For full information about Soccerex please visit http://www.soccerex.com/americas // call +44 (0)20 8987 5522 // email: enquiry@soccerex.com