论国际体育仲裁院对不可抗力的认定

CAS Rulings on Force Majeure

不可抗力是很多国家法律所承认的法定免责事由,在司法与仲裁实践中得到广泛运用,国际体育仲裁院也曾裁决多起涉及不可抗力的体育纠纷案件。CAS在裁判实践中一般依据瑞士法并辅以有关判例来判定具体事件是否构成不可抗力,CAS正逐渐形成一套认定不可抗力的体系方法,认为不可抗力的构成要件包括客观性、不可预见性、超出义务方的控制范围和存在因果关系4个方面。此外,CAS在对不可抗力抗辩进行认定时还会综合考虑当事人的行为表现、体育权益的保障等其他重要因素。总体而言,在CAS仲裁中当事人鲜有以不可抗力为由成功免责的情形。在新冠疫情大背景下,各方更应合理适用不可抗力制度,妥善解决有关纠纷。

Force majeure is a legal reason for exemption from liability recognized by many countries’legislation.It has been widely applied in judicial and arbitration practices,and the Court of Arbitration for Sport has also ruled on a great many sports disputes involving force majeure.CAS generally determines whether a specific event constitutes force majeure in accordance with Swiss law and related precedents.At the same time,CAS has gradually formed a complete and well-formed standard system of force majeure through a series of rulings.It believes that the constitutive elements of force majeure include objectivity,unpredictability,going beyond debtor’s control,and causation.In addition,under CAS’standard system,some other major factors such as the performance of the parties and the guarantee of sports rights are taken into consideration as well.Generally,there were very few cases that the parties were granted exemptions on the grounds of force majeure successfully.In the midst of a global pandemic,all parties are ought to reasonably apply force majeure and resolve relevant disputes properly.