Reyes Bellver tells us, in an exclusive interview with The Impact Lawyers, about her gender equality and diversity projects in football, while we take a look back at her excellent professional career.

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Reyes Bellver: ‘There are many unconscious biases that we must all continue to work to eliminate’.

Reyes Bellver is a lawyer specialising in Sports Law. She began her legal career at EY, but since 2009 she has been working as a lawyer dedicated exclusively to Sports Law, especially international football; with experience in defending players and coaches (men and women) and clubs, as well as advising intermediaries, confederations, and international federations such as FIFA. In 2018, she founded her own law firm, Bellver Sports - Legal boutique, dedicated to Football Law, as well as the platform Leadership Woman Football, for the promotion of leadership, equality and diversity in football. Since 2020 she is external advisor to the FIFA Legal department and in 2023 she has been appointed Arbitrator of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

She received the Miki Roqué ‘Peace through Sport’ Award 2017 for her associative work, training and improvement of the sports sector, especially on gender issues in sport. Likewise, since 2022 she has been an advisor for the Spanish women's footballers' union-FUTPRO-, working on important issues such as the agreement to improve the conditions of the women's national football team, as well as the agreement on family conciliation for women footballers for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with the RFEF. She also participated as an advisor in the historic reform on pregnancy and maternity for female football players carried out by FIFA in 2021 and 2024.

She is certified by FIFA through its Women's Leadership in Football Programme in 2016 and by Columbia University (USA) in 2019 with its Sports Management Programme. Since 2018, she is included in the prestigious international list Who's Who Legal (WWL: Sports & Entertainment), as one of the international benchmark lawyers and ‘Thought leader in Sport’ in the sports law sector.

She is committed to gender equality and diversity in football and in all areas of society. Reyes has an inclusive vision, whereby men and women must work as a team.

The Impact Lawyers (TIL): A few days ago, the second Collective Bargaining Agreement of the 1st division of professional women's football was signed. You are the lawyer for the majority union, FUTPRO. Satisfaction in the union?

Reyes Bellver (R.B.): Of course, we have worked for two years and in a very ambitious way, to try to get the best possible agreement, and that is what we have achieved.

TIL: It has been a long process, has it been hard?

R.B.: Yes, in fact, it has been quite tough. The negotiation of some blocks has been complicated, for example, the whole economic part, which even ended in a strike by the players. We have had points on which the parties had opposing views, but in the end, with everyone giving in, we have managed to reach an agreement that advances the labour rights of all professional female footballers.

TIL: Which points were the most difficult to reach?

R.B.: The economic block, everything that impacts on the budgets of the clubs or the F League itself.

TIL: What role have the players played in this whole process?

R.B.: Fundamental, it is their Convention. We are their representatives, but we inform them of everything. To reach the final agreement, an assembly of players is organised, and they are the ones who decide, and they did, whether they want this text or not. Our duty is to work in the negotiation as well as possible, to inform them and to achieve the best document with the greatest progress for them.

TIL: What would you highlight as milestones in this agreement?

R.B.: There are several important advances, in all areas (economic, maternity, sporting...) improvements have been made, but we can summarise the following:

1. Reformulation of the system of Compensation and Reinvestment in the Quarry: a new method is established with objective criteria eliminating discretionality and 50% of the proceeds are allocated to the quarry, promoting the development of grassroots football and new talents.

2. Weekly rest: respect for the established rest days is guaranteed. If a player is unable to rest for a match, she will be offered another day for her enjoyment.

3. Maternity and Pregnancy: protective measures are adopted for pregnant women, such as contract renewal and the creation of a working group. Clubs must provide breastfeeding rooms and childcare facilities. The Convention is brought into line with FIFA regulations.

4. Protection from gender-based violence: a comprehensive approach to support victims will be implemented, including psychological assistance and an investigative committee to ensure independence.

5. Mental Health: Initiatives will be developed to promote the psychological well-being of female football players.

6. Wages: Guaranteed minimum wage is guaranteed, in the sense that bonuses, prizes, bonuses, bonuses, bonuses and other wage items cannot be part of the guaranteed minimum wage. A joint commission shall be established to facilitate the claiming of wages owed by F League players.

7. Scholarships for Study and Entrepreneurship: For the first time, scholarships will be offered both for studies and for those who wish to start a business after their career.

8. New compensation for absolute permanent disability and increase of the rest of the compensation: a compensation for absolute permanent disability of €150,000 is created and the compensation for death and permanent disability are increased to €100,000 and €90,000 respectively.

9. New seniority bonus: players with more than 3 seasons of seniority in this season will start to receive this bonus, which will be revalued with the CPI each year.

TIL: Few women work professionally in the football sector. Where did your vocation as a lawyer specialising in sports law come from?

R.B.: I studied law as a vocation, because I believe in a fairer world, but one in which we must all fight to improve it. I come from a football family and being able to combine the passion of football with that of law was a dream, so I decided to specialise and study a Master's degree in sports law in Lleida, which is what introduced me to the industry in 2009, and which I enjoy every day with every challenge that comes my way. It is undoubtedly an exciting sector and I would like to meet more female lawyers along the way. I try to do my bit in this by being accessible, training and mentoring young female lawyers. You have to give back to football what football gives you.

TIL: A little over a year ago, you were appointed member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/CAS), how was your experience?

R.B.: It is an honour to be a member of the most prestigious court in sport. I have already had cases since I was appointed and it is a very interesting experience to analyse the cases from the arbitrators' point of view and not as a lawyer, which was my previous experience.

TIL: As a member of the FARE network, how can violence, racism and discrimination in football be eradicated?

R.B.: First of all, by knowing the reality and raising awareness. Once the current situation is known, establishing effective measures in the short, medium and long term to eradicate it, and always in coordination with all the institutions and parties involved, and without forgetting education on these issues.

TIL: Do you think that clubs, leagues, federations and fans are sufficiently aware of this scourge?

R.B.: I think there has been a lot of improvement in recent years, but there is still a long way to go. I think we need more education about what is racism and what is not, and what are discriminatory actions or attitudes. There are a lot of unconscious biases that we all need to continue to work on eliminating.

TIL: You do a lot of teaching in different institutions, why is it important to specialise in the sports law sector?

R.B.: I believe that the area of sports law must be given value and its place, and like any other area, it must be specialised, studied and trained. We have specific regulations, so it is not just a matter of having a passion for sport or practising it or knowing about it, you have to have a legal and sport-specific background if you want to be a good sports lawyer.

TIL: The International Association of Football Lawyers (AIAF), of which you are a member, has just held its Annual Congress. Since a few weeks ago we have had a Spaniard at the helm, Juan de Dios Crespo. Are Spanish lawyers a reference in the sports sector?

R.B.: Of course, as well as being pioneers in some areas and very active in the sector. Juan de Dios is a reference and we have learned and continue to learn from him, and the fact that he is now president of the most important association of football lawyers is something to be proud of.

TIL: To get to know you a little better, Reyes, your favourite film?

R.B.: Jerry Maguire

TIL: A place to escape to?

R.B.: Punta Umbria, Huelva.

TIL: You studied at the CEU San Pablo University. Do you remember any teacher who made a special impression on you?

R.B.: All those who taught me Community Law, in particular María Bellido was inspiring, and I have a great memory of an excellent professional; Professor Marta Villar, who even changed my perspective on financial and tax law.

TIL: Which book would you recommend?

R.B.: A book in general, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, and The Little Prince, which is a book that always accompanies me. About football, Una vida con el Betis, by my father, Carlos Bellver.

TIL: I think the answer is obvious but, Real Betis or Sevilla FC?

R.B.: ‘Manquepierda’ as a philosophy of life, of Real Betis Balompié, of course.