Dr. McArdle was previously the Head of the Law School and the Law REF Co-ordinator at Stirling University, and he is now the Law School Research Lead. His work on the relationship between sport and the law is globally-recognised, and he has extensive research, teaching, impact, PhD supervision and consultancy experience on those issues.
Dr McArdle’s work contributes to two of the university’s research themes (living well and cultures, communities, society) and to the law school’s strengths in human and civil rights especially. His current research focuses on issues relating to discrimination (notably pregnancy and religious discrimination in US college sports), the legal and ethical responses to sport-related concussion legal and policy concerns around the UNESCO and Council of Europe Anti-Doping Conventions, and the relationship between EU sports law and EU sports policy. He is a co-author of two reports for the Scottish government, one on the use of football banning orders and the other on the Offensive Behaviour at Football etc Act, and of two reports for the European Commission, on event organisers’ rights and matchfixing. He has provided Opinions on sports disputes for several government bodies and international federations, and advised national governing bodies in anti-doping cases and other disciplinary matters,
Dr McArdle’s next book, on European Sport Law with Leanne O'Leary and Simona Kustec, will be published in 2026. He is a Visiting Fellow at the OP Jindal Global University School of Law in India and is an Academic Associate in sports law for a barristers' chambers in Manchester and London.
Dr McArdle’s current funded projects concern concussion policies in rugby union's 'emerging markets', building on his earlier collaborative work funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and he has attracted external funding of over ?350,000 in total. In addition to supervising PhDs in the area of sports law, he has also worked with successful doctoral candidates researching topics as diverse as the WTO regime in Saudi Arabia, freedom of expression in Egypt and regulating cybercrime in Nigeria.
Sports Arbitration; Sport and Human Rights; Medico-legal Aspects of Sport; Image Rights and Celebrity Culture. Postgraduate Supervision: Sports Law and Arbitration, especially EU and comparative perspectives. Comparative employment and trade union law.
Scottish Government Concussion Advisory Group
Trustee, Chesterfield Football Club (Spireites Trust)
Academic Associate, 23 Essex Street Chambers
Honorary Member of the Sport Law, Policy and Diplomacy Centre University of Rijeka
Visiting Fellow, OP Jindal Global University School of Law
Care, Consent and Sport Related Concussion: Ethico-Legal Investigation into Head Injuries in Boxing, Football, and RugbyUnion
PI: Dr David McArdle
Funded by: Arts and Humanities Research Council
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Association of Law Teachers Conference 2020
PI: Dr David McArdle
Funded by: Delegates - Conferences
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A Proposal to Conduct Research into the Impact of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Government
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RSE - international Exchange Programme
PI: Dr David McArdle
Funded by: The Royal Society of Edinburgh
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Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland
PI: Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith
Funded by: Scottish Government
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Regulating outdoor adventure activities in the wilderness areas of Scotland and South Africa
PI: Dr David McArdle
Funded by: Association of Commonwealth Universities
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Royal Society International Exchange Programme Bilateral Travel
PI: Dr David McArdle
Funded by: The Royal Society of Edinburgh
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Article
Litigation and liability in concussion research and collaboration
McArdle D & DeMartini AL (2024) Litigation and liability in concussion research and collaboration. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2024.2361909
Article
McArdle D (2023) The employment implications and tax status of English football referees: Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs v Professional Game Match Officials Ltd [2021] EWCA Civ 1370 European Development. European Labour Law Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/20319525231201279
Article
Mcnamee M, Anderson LC, Borry P, Camporesi S, Derman W, Holm S, Knox TR, Leuridan B, Loland S, Lopez Frias FJ, Lorusso L, Malcolm D, Mcardle D, Partridge B, Schramme T & Weed M (2023) Sport-related concussion research agenda beyond medical science: culture, ethics, science, policy Extended essay. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://doi.org/10.1136/jme-2022-108812
Article
McArdle D & de Mars S (2023) Your Body Is a Battleground: Pregnancy Discrimination and College Sports After 50 Years of Title IX David McArdle and Sylvia de Mars. Journal of Legal Aspects of Sport, 33 (1), pp. 3-45. https://doi.org/10.18060/22433
Article
Sports Law, Sports Policy and The Amateur Athlete. Reflections on Topfit and Biffi v. Deutscher
McArdle D (2022) Sports Law, Sports Policy and The Amateur Athlete. Reflections on Topfit and Biffi v. Deutscher. Sports Law, Policy and Diplomacy Journal, 1 (1), pp. 1-20.
Article
DeMartini AL, Kim S, Connaughton DP & McArdle D (2021) A comparison of US and Scotland youth soccer coaches' legal consciousness regarding concussion safety regulations. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16 (3), pp. 554-567. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954120981197
Article
'It Isn't My Area.' Coaches' Awareness of Concussion Protocols in Scottish Youth Football
McArdle D, De Martini A, Kim S & Connaughton D (2021) 'It Isn't My Area.' Coaches' Awareness of Concussion Protocols in Scottish Youth Football. Scottish Affairs, 30 (1), pp. 53-73. https://doi.org/10.3366/scot.2021.0352
Book Chapter
Doping and Human Rights in Pariah States
McArdle D (2019) Doping and Human Rights in Pariah States. In: Duval A & Rigozzi A (eds.) Yearbook of International Sports Arbitration 2017. Yearbook of International Sports Arbitration. The Hague: TMC Asser Press, pp. 29-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/15757_2019_28
Book Chapter
Doping and Human Rights in Pariah States
McArdle D (2019) Doping and Human Rights in Pariah States [CAS 2016/A/4708, Belarus Canoe Association and Belarusian Senior Men’s Canoe and Kayak Team Members v International Canoe Federation]. In: Duval A & Rigozzi A (eds.) Yearbook of International Sports Arbitration 2017. YISA. The Hague: TMC Assert Press, pp. 29-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/15757_2019_28
Book Chapter
Image Rights and Sports In India
McArdle D (2018) Image Rights and Sports In India. In: Dasgupta L & Sen S (eds.) Sports Law in India: Policy, Regulation and Commercialisation. SAGE Law. New Delhi: SAGE, pp. 177-191. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/sports-law-in-india/book263286
Article
McArdle D (2016) 'You Had Me at 'No capital Gains Tax on a Disposal'': Legal and Theoretical Aspects of Standalone Image Rights. Legal Studies, 36 (4), pp. 639-657. https://doi.org/10.1111/lest.12129
Book Chapter
McArdle D (2015) 'Strict Liability' and legal rights: Nutritional Supplements, 'Intent' and 'Risk' in the Parallel world of WADA. In: Moller V, Waddington I & Hoberman J (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Drugs and Sport. Routledge International Handbooks. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 293-309. https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Drugs-and-Sport/Moller-Waddington-Hoberman/p/book/9780415702782
Authored Book
Dispute Resolution in Sport: Athletes, Law and Arbitration
McArdle D (2015) Dispute Resolution in Sport: Athletes, Law and Arbitration. Ethics and Sport. Abingdon: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Dispute-Resolution-in-Sport-Athletes-Law-and-Arbitration/McArdle/p/book/9781138695191
Book Chapter
The Courts, the CAS and the 'Professional' Athlete
McArdle D (2015) The Courts, the CAS and the 'Professional' Athlete. In: Dispute Resolution in Sport: Athletes, Law and Arbitration. Ethics and Sport. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 19-35. https://www.routledge.com/Dispute-Resolution-in-Sport-Athletes-Law-and-Arbitration/McArdle/p/book/9781138695191
Research Report
Hamilton-Smith N, Anderson S, Simpson I, McArdle D, McBride M, Goodall K, Haynes R, Jago N & Crawford J (2015) An evaluation of section 1 of the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012. Scottish Government. Social Research Series. Scottish Government. http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00479049.pdf
Authored Book
Dispute Resolution in Sport: Athletes, Law and Arbitration
McArdle D (2014) Dispute Resolution in Sport: Athletes, Law and Arbitration. Ethics and Sport. London: Taylor and Francis. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415595674/
Research Report
Anderson J, Duval A, Van Rompuy B, van der Harst M & McArdle D (2014) Study on risk assessment and management and prevention of conflicts of interest in the prevention and fight against betting-related match fixing in the EU 28 - Final Report [The Asser Report]. European Commission. EAC/16/2013. Publications Office of the European Union. http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/2014/docs/study-asser_en.pdf
Article
National law, domestic governance and global policy: a case study of anti-doping policy in Slovenia
Kustec Lipicer S & McArdle D (2014) National law, domestic governance and global policy: a case study of anti-doping policy in Slovenia. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 6 (1), pp. 71-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2012.662692
Research Report
Study on Sports Organisers' Rights in the European Union: Final Report
Van Rompuy B, Margoni T, Hugenholtz PB, van Eijk N, McArdle D, Becker T, Jasserand-Breeman C & van der Harst M (2014) Study on Sports Organisers' Rights in the European Union: Final Report. European Commission. EAC 18/2012. European Union. http://ec.europa.eu/sport/news/2014/docs/study-sor2014-final-report-gc-compatible_en.pdf
Book Chapter
CAS 2009/A/1912-1913 Pechstein v International Skating Union
McArdle D (2013) CAS 2009/A/1912-1913 Pechstein v International Skating Union. In: Anderson J (ed.) Leading Cases in Sports Law. ASSER International Sports Law Series. The Hague, Netherlands: TMC Asser Press, pp. 209-228. http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-6704-909-2_13
Book Chapter
England's Act, Scotland's Shame and the Limits of the Law
Hamilton-Smith N & McArdle D (2013) England's Act, Scotland's Shame and the Limits of the Law. In: Flint J & Kelly J (eds.) Bigotry, Football and Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 130-144. https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-bigotry-football-and-scotland.html
Book Chapter
McArdle D (2011) Longitudinal profiling, sports arbitration and the woman who had nothing to lose: some thoughts on Pechstein v. International Skating Union. In: McNamee M & M?ller V (eds.) Doping and Anti-Doping Policy in Sport: Ethical, Legal and Social Perspectives. Ethics and Sport. Abingdon, Oxon: Taylor & Francis (Routledge), pp. 50-65. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415619233/
Research Report
An Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland
Hamilton-Smith N, Bradford B, Hopkins M, Kurland J, Lightowler C, McArdle D & Tilley N (2011) An Evaluation of Football Banning Orders in Scotland. Scottish Government. Scottish Government. www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch.
Article
The views from the hills: fatal accidents, child safety and licensing adventure activities
McArdle D (2011) The views from the hills: fatal accidents, child safety and licensing adventure activities. Legal Studies, 31 (3), pp. 372-391. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-121X.2011.00192.x
Article
Doping, European Law and the Implications of Meca-Medina
Callery C & McArdle D (2011) Doping, European Law and the Implications of Meca-Medina. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 3 (2), pp. 163-175. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2011.579146
Article
Elite Athletes and Disability Discrimination
McArdle D (2009) Elite Athletes and Disability Discrimination. Cambrian Law Review, 40, pp. 49-62. http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/law-criminology/research/clr/
Book Chapter
Some Reflections on Age Discrimination, Referees’ Retirement Ages and European Sports (Law)
McArdle D (2009) Some Reflections on Age Discrimination, Referees’ Retirement Ages and European Sports (Law). In: Gardiner S, Parrish R & Siekmann R (eds.) EU, Sport, Law and Policy: Regulation, Re-regulation and Representation. Den Haag: T.M.C. Asser Press, pp. 151-166. http://www.asser.nl/publications.aspx?subject=4&site_id=28&level1=14484&level2=14509&type=&id=4211
Article
McArdle D (2009) Using the Americans with Disabilities Act to Inform "Access to Sporting Venues" Under the Disabilities Convention. Boston University International Law Journal, 27 (2), pp. 317-344. http://www.bu.edu/law/central/jd/organizations/journals/international/volume27n2/index.html
Article
Hoey D & McArdle D (2008) Pouring oil on troubled waters? Employment tribunals, "jurisdiction" and the territorial scope of unfair dismissal. Juridical Review, 2008 (4), pp. 291-314. http://www.wgreen.co.uk/details?prodid=7122&unitid=7122&search=juridical%20review&format=all&publisher=green
Article
McArdle D (2008) "Just One of the Challenges of 21st-Century Life": Oscar Pistorius in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. SCRIPTed: A Journal of Law, Technology and Society, 5 (2), pp. 404-413. https://script-ed.org/archive/volume-5/issue-52-227-448
Article
Swallows and Amazons, or the Sporting Exception To the Gender Recognition Act
McArdle D (2008) Swallows and Amazons, or the Sporting Exception To the Gender Recognition Act. Social and Legal Studies, 17 (1), pp. 39-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0964663907086455
Labour law, research methods, sports law, collective labour law.