1. What is the current legal status of sports law in Bahrain?

The Kingdom of Bahrain regulates sports affairs through a combination system of national legislation and the statutes of sports authorities. This system aims to ensure a balance between the public interest requirements and the need for sports autonomy as mandated by international sports organizations.

On the other hand, there are multiple entities in Bahrain responsible for overseeing and supervising the sports sector, distributed between governmental authorities and national sports bodies, with the aim of balancing national oversight and the autonomy requirements imposed by international sports organizations.

2. What are three key pieces of advice for clients in sports law cases?

Based on my professional experience in the field of sports law, I can summarize three key recommendations regarding contractual sports disputes for professional athletes as follows:

1. Seek specialized legal advice before entering into any legal arrangement, as this helps avoid both procedural and substantive errors—particularly prior to signing sports contracts.
2. Ensure that all internal procedures within local sports federations are completed and exhausted before resorting to dispute resolution through an independent or international body.
3. Include an arbitration clause in contracts, whether referring disputes to a local arbitration institution established in accordance with proper international standards, or to an international arbitration body such as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in order to avoid any ambiguity regarding the competent authority to resolve disputes arising from such contracts.

3. What are the main threats and opportunities in the field of sports law over the next 12 months?

One of the most significant legal challenges in the coming period will be the implementation of the principles of financial fair play, as they involve complex issues related to governance, transparency, and equality of opportunity among clubs.

In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in cases concerning clubs’ compliance with spending and revenue limits, as well as oversight and accountability mechanisms before continental and international federations.

Conversely, this system represents an important opportunity to strengthen financial sustainability and enhance competitive integrity in football, contributing to the protection of the sport’s ecosystem and ensuring fairness among clubs in the long term.

It also encourages clubs to invest in developing their academy players rather than spending excessively on star signings, and helps promote stability in the sports market by maintaining reasonable price levels and preventing market inflation.

4. How do you ensure client satisfaction?

As a sports arbitrator and a member of several national and international dispute resolution chambers, I ensure the highest levels of satisfaction among parties in sports arbitration cases by following an approach based on three key principles:

1. Impartiality and full transparency in managing arbitration proceedings, in strict adherence to applicable international standards.
2. Efficiency and timeliness in resolving disputes, maintaining a balance between swift justice and respect for the right of defense—thereby strengthening parties’ confidence in the arbitration system.
3. Professional communication and confidentiality, by keeping the parties informed of procedural developments without compromising the confidentiality of deliberations or the independence of the arbitral tribunal.

5. What are the technological developments affecting sports law, and how can clients benefit from them?

There is no doubt that digital transformation and modern technologies have become key factors in sports legal practices—just as in other fields.

The benefits of this digital transformation can be seen across several aspects that the sports community and governing bodies have already begun to adopt. For instance, the remote management of sports disputes now allows parties from any country to litigate before any arbitral body with jurisdiction, regardless of location, as it includes the electronic exchange of documents and virtual attendance at hearings via video conferencing.

Additionally, artificial intelligence applications can serve as valuable tools for parties to review their sports contracts, analyze cases, and identify key legal issues.