The tripartite nature of the team/doctor/athlete relationship poses special ethical and legal dilemmas because the doctor owes potentially conflicting obligations to the team and the athlete. The law will require that the athlete's health and safety receive priority. The team doctor is at risk from“fan syndrome”; which distorts proper clinical judgment through an overriding desire to see the team achieve success. Fan syndrome can be instrumental in bringing about legal liability in a variety of situations. A major role is Indicated for professional bodies in establishing model administrative and legal structures under which team doctors can operate. These structures can minimise the scope for conflicts of Interest and for fan syndrome.