Allowing the establishment of sports schools… Imprisonment and fines for fans in these cases

The Ministry of Sports intends to allow the establishment of sports schools after obtaining the necessary licenses from the relevant government agencies, provided that it agrees with the Ministry of Education on the terms and conditions for licensing and the provisions for the practice of these schools for their activities.

And the Ministry stressed, in the “Sports System” project that is currently being presented for polling on the “Istiqlal” platform, that no person may use or exploit the name, flag, logos or marks of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, or any name, flag or logo that symbolizes sport or the Olympic movement. Paralympics only after obtaining the approval of the Committee.

The Ministry has set penalties of up to imprisonment and a fine for the masses in certain cases, and the following are the most prominent details of the system prepared by the Ministry in this regard: –

Mandatory licenses

The Ministry stipulated obtaining a license from it when establishing sports facilities or making modifications to them, and before practicing sports centers, sports institutes and sports academies for their activities. A license must also be obtained from the Ministry before establishing any sports company.

And she stressed that it is not permissible to practice the management and operation of sports facilities without a license from the Ministry, and the regulations specify the terms and conditions of licensing and controls for the practice of these works, just as it is not permissible to practice the work of managing and operating sports competitions and sporting events without a license from the Ministry, adding that the sports agent may not practice the activity of the agency. without obtaining a license from the concerned association.

She added that it is not permissible for others to hold an event or sports competition without a license from the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee or the concerned sports federation, stressing the need for members of the training and technical staff of sports centers, sports institutes, sports academies and sports schools to be licensed by the Ministry in accordance with the regulations of this system.

Sports offense penalties

The system stipulates obligating anyone who damages a sports facility affiliated with the Ministry to bear the costs of repairing the damage according to what the Ministry estimates, and the system also sets other penalties that include imprisonment for a period not exceeding 7 years or a fine not exceeding 500 thousand riyals, or one of these two penalties for Anyone from the public present at a sports competition or sporting event who commits an act of violence, riot or disorder during the sporting competition or sporting event, or who commits an act that threatens the safety of any of the audience, players, coaches, referees or others present at a sporting competition or A sporting event.

The same penalties are also imposed on anyone who deliberately causes any damage to a sports facility affiliated with the Ministry or any government agency, or whoever uses a name that misleads others that he is a sports entity before obtaining a license from the Ministry. Whoever publicly and through any means, by act or word, incites hatred, racial discrimination, or sports intolerance, in relation to the sports sector.

This fine is also imposed on anyone from the public attending a sports competition or sporting event who commits a disgraceful act or statement that violates public morals, or an illegal act that leads to its disruption, or whoever prevents or obstructs the Ministry’s inspectors from performing their inspection-related duties, or He gave them false or misleading information or statements.

The system also stipulates that whoever incites, agrees with, or assists others – in any form of incitement, agreement, or assistance – to commit any of the crimes stipulated in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, shall be punished with the penalty prescribed for the crime committed if it was committed based on incitement. agreement or assistance.

Additional penalties for crimes

The system confirmed that the competent judicial authority may impose, in addition to the above-mentioned penalties, or instead of them, one or more of the following penalties:

a. Suspension from work in sports entities in any capacity determined by the competent court, permanently or temporarily.

B. Prohibition from entering sports facilities and places where sports competitions or events are held for a period not exceeding five years.

c. Confiscation of funds obtained from the commission of crimes and seizures, subject of the crime, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties.

Dr. Obligation to apologize through the means in which the crime was published or any other means.

H. The obligation to bear the costs of publishing advertisements that encourage good morals and sportsmanship.

And the. Publication of the summary of the judgment imposing the penalty at the expense of the convict in any appropriate means, including electronic means, according to the type of crime committed, its gravity and its impact, provided that the publication is after the judgment becomes final.

g. Obligation to remove the crime and its effects – within a specified period – or charge the convict the costs of restoring the situation to what it was before the crime occurred.

The law stipulates that the Public Prosecution shall be competent to investigate the crimes stipulated in the law and to prosecute before the competent court.

Violations and their penalties

The system confirmed that the Minister of Sports shall issue a decision to issue one or more schedules to classify violations of the provisions of the system and the regulations issued in implementation of its provisions, provided that whoever violates any of the provisions of the system or regulations according to the schedule shall be punished with one or more penalties, including a fine not exceeding 50 thousand riyals, or Cancellation of the license issued by the Ministry, or suspension of the license issued by the Ministry for a period not exceeding one year, or deprivation of obtaining a license from the Ministry for a period not exceeding 5 years, and suspension from work in sports entities in any capacity determined by the Committee for Reviewing Violations of the Law for a period not exceeding Over 5 years, and a ban from entering sports facilities and places where sports competitions or events are held for a period not exceeding two years.

It is also permissible to impose other penalties in addition to the previous penalties, including the obligation to apologize through the means in which the violation was published or any other means, at the expense of the violator, and to publish a summary of the judgment or decision issued for the penalty at the expense of the violator in any appropriate means, including electronic means, according to the type of violation committed. And its gravity and impact, provided that the publication takes place after the decision has been fortified by missing the deadline for grievance against it or the judgment issued in its regard acquires a final character, and the obligation to remove the violation – within a specified period – or to restore the situation to what it was before the occurrence of the violation, while the Ministry will organize the incentive rewards that will be granted For whistleblowers, the decisions of the Committee for Reviewing Law Violations may be objected to before the Administrative Court and in accordance with the relevant legal procedures.

Designating sites for practicing sports

The government agencies concerned with urban planning and development must coordinate with the Ministry to ensure the allocation of sites and spaces for the establishment of sports facilities for various sports activities, and to provide paths and sites for practicing outdoor sports.

Support for people with disabilities

The Ministry and sports entities shall provide the necessary support for persons with disabilities in organizing sports activities, and work on preparing sports facilities to ensure easy access and use of them, and in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Create databases and a national registry

The system stipulates that the Ministry establishes a database to collect data, information and statistics on all aspects related to the sports sector in the Kingdom and updates them regularly. The Ministry provides the necessary data, information and statistics to investors and other persons and entities related to the sports sector.

It also stipulated that the Ministry establish the National Sports Register, in which sports entities, sports groups, sports facilities, centers, institutes, academies and sports schools will be registered, and the contents of the register will be available to the public.

Establishing sports arbitration centers

The system grants the General Assembly of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee the authority to establish one or more arbitration centers, to supervise arbitration procedures in sports or sports-related disputes in which any of the sports entities, members, licensees or registrants are a party to them and the parties agree to settle them. arbitration within the framework of any of these centers, in accordance with the regulations and instructions regulating them.

Customs exemption

The system affirmed that it is not permissible to establish more than one federation for one sport, and that sports entities – with the exception of sports companies – be treated in terms of exempting their imports from customs duties according to the rules followed in the matter of imports of public institutions and bodies.