HM Bahrain King ratifies Sports Professionalism Law

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday ratified and issued Law 8/2021 promulgating the Sports Professionalism Law. The law stipulates that contracts may be signed with professional athletes to practise the sports specified in the contracts.

Each professional contract, whose parties must abide by the rules of the relevant national and international federation, shall be registered with and approved by the relevant sports federation.

According to the law, sports federation shall establish offices specialised in registering professional contracts subject to the provisions of this law and any amendment thereto, and preparing the necessary records for that. The board of directors of each federation shall issue an edict determining the office’s work system and registration procedures. The professional contract’s registration and approval fees shall be determined by a decision issued by the relevant sports federation after the approval of its general assembly.

The contracting party shall, at its expense, register and approve professional contracts.

Each sports federation shall, after the approval of the Minister and the President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, issue regulations for the professional sports system and contracts for professional athletes, in a manner that does not conflict with the laws and regulations of national and international sports federations, within one year after this law comes into force.

The Prime Minister and ministers – each in their capacity – shall implement the provisions of this law, which takes effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.