The Supreme Court votes 9-0 in favor of former college players: 'The NCAA is not above the law'
The NCAA was just dealt a massive blow as the Supreme Court has voted 9-0 in favor of former college players who are fighting to provide athletes with education-related benefits. Until now, those benefits were deemed illegal by the NCAA.
In the court’s ruling, Justice Kavanaugh issued the following damning statement at the NCAA:
“Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing to not pay their workers a fair market rate on their theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate. The NCAA is not above the law.”
It’s important to note this ruling does not open the floodgates for college athletes to be paid for playing but many predict the NCAA’s amateurism model was just dealt a death blow by the Supreme Court.
In the short term, this decision means the NCAA can not restrict certain types of education-related benefits (internships, etc). In long term, Kavanaugh's withering concurrence might open door for antitrust attacks that will end most of the NCAA's restrictions on compensation
— Gabe Feldman (@SportsLawGuy) June 21, 2021
And more from Kavanaugh. This type of language would turn a "modest" NCAA loss into a massive, industry-shifting defeat. pic.twitter.com/khnZiCtaYi
— Gabe Feldman (@SportsLawGuy) June 21, 2021
Here is a reaction from Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut:
The NCAA collusion machine, designed to keep college athletes impoverished so the billions in profits can be kept for a small cabal of insiders, is finally starting to crumble to pieces. https://t.co/wQmGcqJzqs
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) June 21, 2021
It didn’t take long for the reactions to come pouring in:
The only shame of the NCAA losing a case 9-0 is that Steve Spurrier wasn’t coaching the Supreme Court so they could run the score up about 62-0 or so.
— Darin Gantt (@daringantt) June 21, 2021
Oh LOL, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 against the NCAA.
In a largely polarized and divisive time, no issue has become more bipartisan than dunking on the NCAA.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) June 21, 2021
— Tom Mars (@TomMarsLaw) June 21, 2021
Lol hatred for the NCAA unites us all. Truly inspiring. https://t.co/8Oky0VvR2v
— Tucker (@TuckerPartridge) June 21, 2021
SCOTUS, basically: "If you sue the NCAA, you will win." https://t.co/DvPyV3pmQT
— Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) June 21, 2021
Again, case about "education-related benefits" and not paying student-athletes. But Justice Kavanaugh seemed to welcome that challenge in future:
"NCAA's remaining compensation rules also raise serious questions under the antitrust laws."
But that will have to be another case.— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) June 21, 2021
NCAA amateurism pic.twitter.com/hEDKV5rhfE
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) June 21, 2021
