Simon McCann specialises in sports law, and personal injury cases with an emphasis on complex issues of fraud and liability. In fraud work, he has many years of trial experience.

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Sports Law

His main specialisations are in regulatory, anti-doping and safeguarding cases.  Simon has represented a number of high-profile, international standard athletes, national-level clubs, leagues and national governing bodies.

 

Crisis management

Simon regularly deals with “crisis” and “reputational” management situations when an event or incident causes a governing body, club, or athlete to face a range of sanctions and/or adverse press coverage. The key in such cases is an immediate, robust, and proportionate response, together with an ability to plan the route ahead. Simon is happy to deal informally at first in such cases and acknowledges that access to advice quickly is vital.

 

Examples of such cases are:

  • Re the Death of Adam Johnson – presently representing the Elite Ice Hockey League and teams in the matter of the death of Adam Johnson in 2023 whilst playing in a game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-68107468

  • Re the Death of Alexander Eastwood (2025):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgv72x1340o

  • Toimata v Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Weightlifting Federation (2022) – represented an athlete excluded from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games for a “whereabouts” violation.  The case was heard by the Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport as an emergency matter.

 

Regulatory and governance.

Simon has represented athletes, players, teams and national governing bodies from most sports – football, cricket, rugby union, rugby league, golf, motor racing, basketball, ice hockey, martial arts, tennis, cycling, athletics, boxing and many others.

 

Recent matters have included:

  • Rugby Football League v BG (2026) – instructed by a rugby player banned from his sport after serious criminal charges.
  • OK & NK v British DanceSport Federation (2025) – represented Dance Sport judges in emergency action against the British DanceSport Federation.
  • Chima v Lawn Tennis Association (2024) – represented the Lawn Tennis Association when it was sued by a former tennis coach for breach of contract.  The claim was dismissed.
  • Re WEBBA (2024) – drafted Rules and League Constitution for the West of England Basketball Association.
  • FA of Wales v DW (2022) – represented the Chairman of a club in the Cymru Premier League.

 

Simon has also recently advised on appeals against the withdrawal of National Lottery funding from an elite athlete.

 

Anti-doping

In anti-doping, Simon has represented Premier League football players, professional Rugby League players and numerous Olympic athletes who have faced doping charges brought by the Football Association, UKAD, World Athletics and other regulatory bodies. He has previously represented Dr Richard Freeman (formerly of British Cycling and Team Sky), Dillian Whyte (heavyweight boxer) and Anthony DeLuca (Sheffield Steelers ice hockey player).  Simon's experience of Doping and Integrity prosecutions is international and national.  Simon was appointed as Anti-Doping Counsel to the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

 

Safeguarding

Recent safeguarding work includes investigations held by the Lawn Tennis Association, the British Horse Racing Authority and the England and Wales Cricket Board. 

 

Sports injuries

In combination with his work in the Personal Injury sector, Simon has represented many players and clubs in "player-on-player" incidents, such as this:

https://www.theguardian.com/fo...

Football

Simon has for many years represented football clubs and players across a wide range of work - disciplinary, regulatory, safeguarding, advisory and insurance. Simon is a member of the Football Association's General Panel. He was formerly an Independent

Disciplinary Commissioner for the Birmingham County Football Association, and has a thorough understanding of the game (also beinga FA qualified coach).

He is able to deal with all aspects of football club governance. He has, for example, represented a football club chair who was made the subject of a sanction for social media posts.

Other work

Simon is a Chair of British Canoeing's Disciplinary, Dispute and Appeals Panel, and has dealt with a number of Olympic Selection Appeals.

Simon is a member of the Sports Resolutions Pro-bono Panel, and is able to provide and representation in all areas relating to anti-doping, discipline and safeguarding.

He is a member of the British Association for Sport and Law.

Catastrophic Personal Injury

Simon has many years’ experience of catastrophic injury cases, including brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and chronic pain claims.  He has a particular interest in cases in which functional neurological disorder is alleged.

Simon is noted for his expertise in cases in which surveillance evidence is deployed.  He gives regular seminars on the legal and evidential complexities of surveillance and social media evidence.

 

Recent cases have included:

  • G v TRP and 1 other (2026) – ongoing case in which the Claimant suffered brain injuries after an electrocution.  The claim is valued at in excess of £3 million.
  • NK v LP Limited (2026) – chronic pain case settled for £1 million.
  • NL v KA and 1 other (2026) – ongoing brain injury case valued at £4.5 million.
  • AC v GA (2026) – ongoing spinal injury case valued at £4 million.
  • DK v PP (2025) – Spinal injury case pleaded at in excess of £9 million.  Settled for £3 million.
  • PF v PSJ and 1 other (2025) – settled liability and quantum in a case pleaded at £2.5 million for £600,000.
  • KB v TMS (2024) – finding of fundamental dishonesty in a claim pleaded at in excess of £1 million.
Fraud

Simon’s fraud practice is insurance-based in high-value, multi-track cases.

He is a specialist in this area, with over 30 years of experience in fraud trials and the investigation of fraud, during which time he has taken many hundreds of fraud cases to trial. He has advised motor insurers, employers’ insurers, and local authorities on all aspects of fraudulent claims and has assisted in the development of a number of specialist fraud units. Simon has developed a significant reputation for defending fraudulent claims in both the motor and casualty fields.

Simon’s recent emphasis has been on cases in which insurers seek findings of contempt of court or in which they seek to bring private prosecutions. He has been involved in a number of high-profile cases:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/... 

https://www.insurancetimes.co....

Simon has spoken regularly at national events and at a local level on the subject of fraudulent claims.

Simon has a particular interest in cases in which surveillance or social media evidence are deployed. He is also able to advise on the use of developing technologies such as analytics and telematics. Issues over data protection in insurance and fraud work are also within his expertise.

Areas of special interest:

  • Fraud rings
  • Staged accidents
  • Fraudulent claims in the workplace
  • Fraudulent claims against local authorities
  • Contempt proceedings

Simon is fearless and tactically astute. A very user-friendly junior.'

Legal 500, 2026

Notable Cases

  • Re the Death of Adam Johnson (2026)

    Sports Law

    Presently representing the Elite Ice Hockey League and teams in the matter of the death of Adam Johnson, who died whilst playing in a game between Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers in 2023.

  • Re the Death of Alexander Eastwood (2025)

    Sports Law

    Inquest into the death of Master Alexander Eastwood in a kickboxing bout in 2024.

  • Rugby Football League v BG (2026)

    Sports Law

    Instructed by a rugby player banned from his sport after serious criminal charges

  • OK & NK v British DanceSport Federation (2025)

    Sports Law

    Represented Dance Sport judges in emergency action against the British DanceSport Federation.

  • Chima v Lawn Tennis Association (2024)

    Sports Law

    Represented the Lawn Tennis Association when it was sued by a former tennis coach for breach of contract.  The claim was dismissed

  • Toimata v Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Weightlifting Federation (2022)

    Sports Law

    Represented an athlete excluded from the 2022 Commonwealth Games for a “whereabouts” violation.  The matter was heard by the Ad Hoc Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

  • UKAD v Dr Richard Freeman; Dr Richard Freeman v GMC (on appeal)

    Sports Law

    Represented Dr Richard Freeman, former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor, in his anti-doping case before the National Anti-Doping Panel.  Simon also appeared for Dr Freeman in his appeal against erasure from the medical register.

  • UK Sport v E (2021)

    Sports Law

    Appeal against withdrawal of Elite Athlete's Lottery funding

  • England and Wales Cricket Board v B (2021)

    Sports Law

    Appeal against safeguarding ban for a cricket coach

  • British Horse Racing Authority v G (2021)

    Sports Law

    Safeguarding appeal against BHRA permanent ban

  • Lawn Tennis Association v M (2021)

    Sports Law

    Safeguarding/bullying hearing for a long-standing professional tennis coach

  • The Football Association v X (2020)

    Sports Law

    Represented a Premier League player in an anti-doping, "social" drugs case

  • KB v Bury Football Club (2020)

    Sports Law

    Representing the (EFL) football club in a personal injury claim brought by an ex-player

  • UKAD (RFL) v AC (2020)

    Sports Law

    Represented a professional RFL player faced with an anti-doping charge

  • World Athletics v DN (2020)

    Sports Law

    Represented a Belorussian Olympic-standard Athlete faced with an anti-doping charge

  • International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) v VG (2019)

    Sports Law

    Represented a Panamanian Olympic-standard track athlete faced with a charge of manipulation of his race results

  • International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) v IK (2019)

    Sports Law

    Represented a Greek Olympic-standard athlete faced with an anti-doping charge

  • International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) v AK (2019)

    Sports Law

    Represented a world-record holding Kenyan long-distance runner in a blood-doping case

  • Ian Hume v Chris Morgan & Sheffield UTD (2011)

    Sports Law

    Acted for the Defendants in this well-publicised case. The Claimant suffered a fractured skull whilst playing for Barnsley against Sheffield United, and alleged that the use of the elbow was either deliberate or reckless

    more

  • G v TRP and 1 other (2026)

    Catastrophic Injury

    Ongoing case in which the Claimant suffered brain injuries after an electrocution.  The claim is valued at in excess of £3 million.

  • NK v LP Limited (2026)

    Chronic pain case settled for £1 million.

  • NL v KA and 1 other (2026)

    Catastrophic Injury

    Ongoing brain injury case valued at £4.5 million.

  • AC v GA (2026)

    Catastrophic Injury

    Ongoing spinal injury case valued at £4 million.

  • DK v PP (2025)

    Spinal injury case pleaded at in excess of £9 million.  Settled for £3 million.

  • PF v PSJ and 1 other (2025)

    Catastrophic Injury

    Settled liability and quantum in a case pleaded at £2.5 million for £600,000.

  • KB v TMS (2024)

    Catastrophic Injury

    Finding of fundamental dishonesty in a claim pleaded at in excess of £1 million.

  • Zurich Insurance Plc v Barnicoat & Craze [2020] EWHC 3127 (QB)

    Contempt & Private Prosecutions

    Represented Zurich Insurance in a contempt of Court case which received national publicity

  • AXA Insurance v Masud [2019] EWHC Civ 479 (QB)

    Contempt & Private Prosecutions

    Represented AXA Insurance in contempt of Court proceedings brought against the Defendant. The Defendant has pursued a large loss personal injury claim, which had been procedurally struck out once surveillance evidence disclosed the Defendant working and driving the family car - neither of which he had been claimed to be able to do.

    AXA brought contempt proceedings. The Deputy High Court Judge sentenced Masud to 16 months' immediate imprisonment in Pentonville Prison. This is one of the largest sentences for contempt that has been seen.

    An attempt to set aside the sentence and purge Masud's contempt failed before the High Court.

Appointments

  • Football Association General Panel Member
  • Former Panel Disciplinary Commissioner Birmingham County Football Association
  • British Canoeing Disciplinary, Disputes and Appeal Panel member
  • Sports Resolutions Pro-bono Panel

Professional Associations

  • Personal Injuries Bar Association
  • British Association for Sport and Law

Education

  • The University of Leeds - International History and Politics BA Hons (1st Class)

Articles by Simon