Approved new sports law updating the 1990 standard

Approval of text in BOE and soon to be published It will renew the regulations in force since October 1990 and will fulfill the Government’s commitment to the European Commission to receive European funds from the Recovery Plan for the modernization of the Spanish model. In this last session of the year, the deputies determined the definitive position of their group before the Law, the third of the democratic era.

Antón Cacho of the Socialist Group called the Law “a important breakthrough on the rights of athletes, equality and participation” and “updating the sports system and new transparency and governance standards“, with front-line opposition such as the PP, which considers it “waste paper”, and Vox, who describes it as “the worst law of democracy”, and the adoption of a “minimal” text (Basque Group), “can be improved” (Plul) and this makes them “partially happy” ( Republican) leaves.

new law recognizes the right to physical activity and sports Among its innovations, it introduces egalitarian and equitable measures against all forms of discrimination in sports based on gender, sexual orientation, race or disability. It defines the rights and duties of athletes and divides them into professionals, non-professionals, high level (qualified by the Supreme Board of Sports), high performance (qualified by autonomous societies) and occasional (licensed for a particular activity). ).

Professionals’ rights include: compromise with your family, academic and professional life; special precautions protection of your right maternity Y paternity and protection that allows them to return to work at the end of their careers.

It also includes sections on volunteering, college and school-age sports; It recognizes the Sports Industry Conference as a dialogue body between all governments and as an element of regional cohesion, removes the requirement to be a sports limited company to participate in professional competitions, and changes the powers of the Sports Administrative Court (TAD). no longer resolves violations of the rules of the game.

Senate changes

From being passed as bill by the executive on December 17, 2021, the law has spent the first eleven months of its life in Congress, until it was approved by the General Assembly and had to return for the back of the merger this Thursday. more than twenty amendments to the senate.

The first key moment of the long parliamentary process was on March 17, when the plenary session of Congress rejected an amendment (304 against, 33 in favor and 5 abstentions) against the entire Republican group on the grounds that it violated jurisdiction. . The latter was during a tough debate at the Culture and Sport Commission on October 25, where it lost support from the Popular and Ciudadanos groups because of the inclusion of a change agreed upon between the Socialists and the PNV that opened the door to participation. .international regional teams.

This option is available for sports modalities or specialties with the following characteristics, if the relevant international federation prescribes: historical and social roots It refers to the situation in their respective communities, as well as the situation in which the autonomous federation forms and will influence an international federation prior to the establishment of the Spanish federation. Basque ball and surf.

Again on this innovation, the plenum of the Lower House, which was much debated, approved it on 3 November, with 166 votes in favor, 157 against and 18 abstentions, without the consensus requested by the Government.

As the law passes Congress some claims were included in the first text League Footballpointed to a possible strike if they are not addressed through changes. Not all, but some, such as someone who maintains the current jurisdiction for all business purposes – audiovisual rights – and requires a binding report from professional leagues in the face of regulatory changes from federations that affect them. .

In addition, with regard to the organization of federations and state level competitions, the law prevent the establishment of a commercial relationship with an athlete who can join them.With a change approved after learning about the agreements between the Spanish Football Federation and the company of Barcelona football player Gerard Piqué for the Spanish Super Cup to be played in Saudi Arabia.

In early December, the Senate plenary approved the text with the inclusion of more than twenty amendments after rejecting a Vox veto proposal. Among the changes approved then and approved by Congress today were five from the Socialist Group; one of which includes the creation of the “Struggle” tax benefits program that will help sports organizations of all kinds obtain private funding to develop events and actions.

Creating this formula big companies keep their commitments with the region in which they operate through significant economic contributions to the celebration of sporting events that will contribute to the development of rural areas and stabilization of the population.

Also, others that include the obligation of federations and professional leagues to draw up a specific plan of reconciliation and joint responsibility, with special safeguards in maternity and breastfeeding situations.