law and sport

Question 1

injuries

Answer 1

• Some injuries are expected as a side-effect of participating in sport.
• However, some injuries can occur that are the result of a deliberate act.
• Any claim needs to prove that the injury occurred outside the playing
  culture.
• For example: Fouls from tackles in football, but not punches or stamping.
• Issues relating to player violence are mostly dealt by the NGBs, but on occasions on-pitch violence may be prosecuted.

Question 2

spectators

Answer 2

• pitch invasions
• attacking players

Question 3

for the performer

Answer 3

• Performers may also interact with the Law in other ways;
• For example; contract disputes
• Players are employees and have the same rights as any other worker.
• Sports People’s rights were greatly improved by the introduction of the
• Bosman Ruling in 1995.
• This gave professional football players within the EU to move freely to another
• employer at the end of their contract.
• Their existing club would could not demand transfer fees.
• Contract agreements

Question 4

officials (negligence)

Answer 4

• Negligence: Contact that falls below ‘reasonable person standard’ and leads
  to a breach of the duty of care, which results in foreseeable harm to another.
• Duty of Care: A legal obligation imposed on someone if they are responsible for a group of people.
• When an official is not seen to be doing ‘everything possible’ to keep
• participants safe, they may be seen as being negligent.
• For example; playing a fixture on a dangerous surface that has not been
• checked beforehand

Question 5

duty of care to coaches

Answer 5

• Health and Safety
• Responsible for the H&S of the performers in their care.
• Should have 1st access to facilities and equipment
• A means of contact to emergency services
• A coach could be liable if these are not taken into account.
• Protection from abuse
• Protect children and performers from abuse (threats/taunting/physical abuse).
• Organisations should have a policy regarding child abuse which a coach should adhere to.
• Supplements
• Coaches have a legal obligation and ethical responsibility to educate their athletes about use of drugs and supplements
• act in loco parentis

Question 6

uses ofsport legislation in relation to spectators

Answer 6

• Removal of perimeter fences and terraces; all-seater stadia to replace terraces.
• Control of alcohol sales on the way to grounds as well as in the grounds.
• Specified kick-off times imposed by the police (e.g. in the case of a local derby, an early
• KO time can be imposed to decrease the likelihood of alcohol consumption).
• Increased security and police presence, intelligence gathering, improved police liaison between forces across the country and indeed the world.
• Tougher deterrents, e.g. banning orders, fines, imprisonment for offenders

Question 7

laws

Answer 7

• Occupiers’ Liability Act (1957): safety for visitors
• Safety of Sports Grounds Act (1975): protects all spectators
• Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act (1985): ban of possesion of alochol
• Fire Safety and Safety of Place of Sport Act (1987): max amount of spectators
• The Football Spectators Act (1989): allows banning orders
• The Football Offences Act (1991): prevents throwing missles, racists remarks and tressapssing on feild