Sport & the law

Pop corn reading 1 – Law in relation to performers 2 – Law in relation to officials & spectators 3 – Law in relation to managers etc. Pop corn reading

Elite sport & the law have become more entwined Elite sport & the law have become more entwined. As elite sport becomes more commercialised & more a part of the news & entertainment industry, the stakes become higher for players, officials & spectators BOSMAN RULING – the ruling by the European Court of Justice, giving a professional player the right to a free transfer at the end of their contract

Therefore any transgression by individuals involved in sport are more likely to attract more attention of the police & the courts Players, team managers, match officials, agents & negotiators now need to be WELL VERSED in the law so that they know how to stay within it SPORT LAW – the body of legislation, case law, and precedence that applies to sport

National sport governing bodies want to hold their own right Determine rules Self regulate their sport Sport act as its own law maker, judge & jury – immune from the normal legal process BUT are having to increasingly operate within normal legal systems The law on the pitch – who is responsible, governing bodies or the state?

Where should the line be drawn? A few punches traded between opposing forwards in a game of rugby & a physical assault on a pitch that leads to a court case? And does it matter of the action occurs on a Sunday morning in front of two men and a dog or in front of 65,000 spectators & a nationwide TV audience? Print out a3 – read together share & discuss then debate about question!

Hillsborough disaster

Whose responsible for maintaining standards of behaviour? Elite sport has a huge potential to benefit society & culture BUT that same driving ambition can lead performers & all those associated with elite sport to use methods that succeed that in accordance with the ethical & legal standards. Ultimately the decision as to how to act rests with the individual!!!!