Shura Passes Sports Professionalism Law Amendments

Shura approved on Sunday changes to Bahrain’s sports professionalism law. The amendments move key powers from the ministry framework to the General Sports Authority, while leaving federations with technical control over professional contracts and player transfers.

The Council backed Decree-Law No. 40 of 2025, amending Law No. 8 of 2021 on sports professionalism. The Shura Council’s Youth Committee said the aim is to keep one central point for the general rules governing the professionalism system by assigning that task to the President of the General Sports Authority, while preserving federations’ technical independence.

Shura member Dr Ali Al Haddad said the change follows the creation of the General Sports Authority and closes gaps that could disrupt sports administration. ‘It comes as a response to the institutional shift that established the General Sports Authority and closes any legislative gap that could hinder the work of sport,’ he told the chamber.

Dr Jehad Al Fadhel, the Second Deputy Chairperson of the Shura Council, said the amendments support governance in sports bodies by setting out the split of responsibilities between the General Sports Authority and the federations. ‘The most notable feature is easing the approvals cycle in official bodies, as sport today has become an industry that needs faster, more dynamic procedures,’ she said.

Redha Munfaradi, Head of Shura’s Youth Committee, said the decree-law ‘develops the legal framework for sports professionalism in a way that balances technical independence with unity of regulation, prevents duplication, and matches Bahrain’s international obligations’.

Abdulrahman Askar, CEO of General Sports Authority (GSA), said the decree-law is intended to bring national rules into line with international requirements while giving federations greater scope to issue their own regulations on professionalism and sports contracts. ‘It is a legislative shift and a step taken early to organise and develop the sports sector in the Kingdom,’ he said.

Askar also addressed questions on dispute resolution, saying each federation has a specialist committee to resolve sports disputes, and that a sports arbitration body also deals with urgent cases. He said the decree-law sets the general framework for the relationship between a player or coach, the federation and the competent sports bodies.