An Overview of the Effects of Violating Sports Regulations and Conduct

An Overview of the Effects of Violating Sports Regulations and Conduct

Every sport is governed by established rules and specific regulations. In international competitions, sports federations generally formulate and enforce rules and standards governing athletes, referees, and coaches in their respective sports. In cases where codified rules do not exist, a judge may rely on established customs and accepted practices of society, seek expert opinions from qualified specialists in the relevant sport, and determine whether an incident resulted from a violation of sports regulations. Based on such an assessment, the court will issue an appropriate judicial decision.

Legal Effects of Violating Regulations on Athletes and Clubs

Sports Regulations

The globalization of sport has led to the development of international standards, criteria, indicators, and regulations, particularly in competitive sports. In recent decades, the influence and authority of international sports institutions in rulemaking and the development of global sports law have expanded. Through the establishment of international sports bodies, compliance with sports laws and regulations is closely supervised.

Sports regulations govern sporting activities within each discipline and, under titles such as rules, regulations, or bylaws, clearly define prohibited actions and fouls. Training, whether academic or experiential, is provided to coaches, athletes, and referees, who identify violations in accordance with these regulations.

The term “regulations” as used in Article 59 of the Islamic Penal Code refers to a set of conditions established by federations, boards, associations, and similar bodies in a modern framework governing sporting activities. It also includes uncodified rules governing indigenous sports, even if they have not been formally approved by governmental bodies, provided that they are customarily accepted by society. In essence, if a set of actions is recognized as a sport, it necessarily operates under certain rules. According to the explicit wording of Article 59, the primary condition for considering an incident arising from a sport as legally justified is compliance with the relevant regulations, provided that such regulations are consistent with the higher objectives of sport.

Article 59 of the Islamic Penal Code

Incidents arising from sporting activities are not considered criminal, provided that they are not caused by a violation of the regulations governing that sport and that such regulations are not contrary to Islamic principles. This provision affirms the validity of sports regulations even in acts that would otherwise constitute a crime under general criminal law. Compliance with sports regulations, therefore, results in the exemption of the actor from criminal liability. Conversely, violation of such regulations subjects the conduct to general criminal rules.

The clearest example of sports regulations concerns rules governing fouls in sports. Each sport typically has a codified set of rules prepared and made available to federations or boards. These sets of rules usually detail regulations concerning playing fields, players, referees, violations, and sanctions with precision.

Sports laws may be divided into two categories:

• Rules that specifically govern the conduct of the game.
• Rules that impose special duties of care and precaution on players, with the objective of ensuring safety and preventing violence during sporting activities.

The second category is of particular interest in civil liability law, as it examines the legal consequences of sporting faults and their effects on legal relationships.

Incidents Arising from Sporting Activities

Sporting activities consist of individual or group physical actions aimed at achieving success in accordance with the expectations of each sport. The question then arises as to what constitutes incidents arising from such activities. Although, based on the wording of Article 59, it may appear that only accidental injuries and adverse consequences such as wounds or fractures are excluded from criminal liability, the legislator’s intent extends beyond mere unintended outcomes. The acts themselves, such as blows exchanged in boxing or martial arts, are not considered criminal even if no injury occurs.

Liability for incidents affecting persons other than athletes, such as spectators, referees, or coaches during a match, is assessed according to the degree of fault under the Islamic Penal Code and the Civil Code. This distinction is clear, as the implied consent that precludes criminal liability in sporting incidents applies to athletes who accept the inherent risks of sports. Such consent does not exist for non-athletes outside the sporting relationship. The legitimacy of incidents arising from sporting activities is therefore grounded in law, under which acts carried out in compliance with sports regulations are not considered prosecutable crimes.

The Role of Time in the Non-Criminal Nature of Sporting Incidents

One of the essential conditions for excluding sporting incidents from criminal liability is that the activity must occur within the authorized time frame of the sport. Sports may be classified into two categories in this regard:

The first category includes sports with a clearly defined duration, which must be conducted strictly within the time permitted by the rules and have a precise beginning and end, such as football and wrestling. Incidents resulting from sporting activities are considered non-criminal only within this defined time frame. Injuries occurring before or after the official time, even if caused by a technically correct move, may be regarded as criminal.

The second category includes sports without strict time limitations, such as volleyball. As long as play or training continues, sporting activities are considered permissible, and incidents arising therefrom are not regarded as criminal.

Legal Impact of Location on Sporting Incidents

Sporting activities and incidents arising from them are not considered criminal only if, in addition to occurring within the authorized time, they take place in locations designated and approved for the specific sport. Whether indigenous or international, sports are necessarily conducted in venues appropriate to their nature. Football is played on a football field, and wrestling is conducted in a wrestling hall.

Further analysis shows that considerations such as preventing injuries, minimizing accidents, and facilitating proper performance are among the most important factors in selecting appropriate venues for each sport. The use of appropriate equipment, such as mats for sports like gymnastics and wrestling, where athletes frequently fall and rise, is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions on the Effects of Violating Sports Regulations and Conduct