نظام الرياضة الجديد.. تشريع يوسّع الحوكمة ويُخضع قيادات الأندية للمساءلة الجنائية

"Okaz" obtained a copy of the new sports system approved by the Council of Ministers, which is considered the largest organizational restructuring the sector has witnessed since its establishment.

The system redraws the relationship between the Olympic Committee, federations, clubs, associations, and sports companies, and establishes precise governance rules for technical, administrative, and commercial activities, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 in building a sustainable sports industry based on data, transparency, and discipline.

Standardizing Definitions of Sports Entities

The system is based on the principle of standardizing definitions of sports entities and registering them in the national sports registry, linking them to the ministry's regulations, while establishing clear governance and oversight standards. It also grants the Olympic and Paralympic committees an expanded legislative role, making them the supreme reference for the sector by adopting the basic regulations for federations, supervising technical centers, setting national strategies for Olympic and Paralympic sports, representing the Kingdom internationally, and issuing general regulations.

The system grants sports federations broad technical, organizational, and disciplinary powers that include developing sports, increasing the number of participants, forming national teams, organizing championships, granting licenses to players, coaches, referees, and agents, managing investigations and imposing penalties, and issuing technical and disciplinary regulations according to international standards. It also holds their boards of directors financially and administratively accountable in cases of negligence or making decisions that harm the entity.

Financial Independence for Clubs

As for the clubs, the system provides a new framework for financial and administrative independence, allowing them to be transformed into sports companies to which all obligations and rights are transferred, enabling them to establish companies, invest in real estate and movable assets, operate sports academies and schools, and manage their technical and administrative bodies through strict internal systems. In return, club administrations are held accountable for any errors or violations.

In terms of investment, the system requires obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Sports before establishing companies or engaging in sports activities, and it refers the determination of foreign ownership percentages to a decision by the Council of Ministers, linking the contractual relationship between players, coaches, and clubs to a regulation issued by the minister, which includes rights, duties, benefits, and financial obligations.

Establishing a Systematic Path for Dispute Resolution

The system extends to organizing individuals in the sports sector, including players, coaches, referees, and agents, as it specifies the conditions for their registration, licensing, and legal rights, and adopts a periodic list for elite athletes that includes players, coaches, and referees based on performance and achievements. The system also establishes sports arbitration as a systematic path for resolving disputes and grants the Saudi Anti-Doping Committee full powers for testing, investigation, and imposing penalties according to the international code.

Regarding legal responsibilities, the system emphasizes holding board members, CEOs, and administrators liable for any damage arising from error, negligence, or default, considering them responsible under warranty towards the entity, without exempting any of them from criminal accountability when committing acts that warrant punishment under relevant regulations. It also specifies that liability claims must be heard within three years of the end of membership, except in cases of fraud, deceit, and trust claims.

Licensing for Events, Facilities, and Training Centers

The system also regulates licensing for events, facilities, and sports education and training centers, emphasizing the prohibition of any activity without a permit. It specifies an extensive list of violations, including providing misleading information, unauthorized access to facilities or events, using logos without permission, committing verbal or physical abuses, or introducing prohibited tools. Penalties can reach up to a fine of half a million riyals, suspension of the license, cessation of activity, and expulsion from the club or association.

The new system represents a legislative maturity phase for the sports sector by building a comprehensive professional system, expanding the base of practitioners, protecting rights, enhancing governance and transparency, attracting investment, and strengthening the Kingdom's presence in regional and international sports.