{"id":118876,"date":"2025-11-10T08:36:59","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T08:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=118876"},"modified":"2025-11-10T13:30:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T13:30:16","slug":"belgium-sports-law","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/belgium-sports-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Belgium: Sports Law"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-118876","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-sports-law","jurisdictions-belgium"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Everest<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2025\/11\/everest.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Everest<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2025\/11\/everest.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>","below_title":"<span class=\"guide-intro\">This country specific Q&amp;A provides an overview of Sports Law laws and regulations applicable in Belgium<\/span><div class=\"guide-content\"><div class=\"filter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search questions and answers...\" class=\"filter-container__search-field\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<ol class=\"custom-counter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do you have a specific sport tribunal in your country to decide sports-related domestic issues for one or more disciplines? Are there any other sports-specific alternative dispute resolutions in your country, i.e. mediation, conciliation, or sports ombuds instance? Are there cases that can or cannot be submitted to a specific sports tribunal or cannot be subject to arbitration (e.g. labor disputes)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>There are no sport tribunals organized on a governmental level. However, several independent sports arbitration institutions operate outside the sports governing bodies.<\/p>\n<p>The Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (\u201cBAS\u201d\/\u201dCBAS\u201d\/\u201dBCAS\u201d) is currently the main sports judicial body in Belgium and find its origins within the Belgian Olympic and Inter-Federal Committee (\u201cBOIC\u201d). The BCAS\u2019s jurisdiction depends on the regulations of the relevant sports federation or on a specific arbitration agreement between the parties. Most Belgian sports federations provide a right of appeal to the BCAS.<\/p>\n<p>CEPANI\u2019s Center for Sports Arbitration (\u201cC-SAR\u201d) forms part of CEPANI, Belgium\u2019s leading arbitration and mediation institution. Its current remit is limited to licensing disputes in professional football.<\/p>\n<p>In the Flemish Community, the Flemish Sports Tribunal deals with cases involving transgressive behaviour, gender-related issues, and, for elite athletes, doping matters.<\/p>\n<p>Under Article 9 of the Employment Act on Paid Athletes and Article 1676 \u00a7 5 of the Judicial Code, labour disputes cannot be submitted to arbitration, including sports arbitration, unless the athlete consents after the dispute has arisen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is Sports law codified in your country? Is there a specific Statute or Code? Are there national sports authorities, independent agencies, or government ministries responsible for oversight?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Sports law in Belgium is not codified in a single statute or code. In addition to the general laws that apply across sectors, there are several laws and regulations specifically addressing sport-related matters. Sports regulation exists at both the federal and community levels, although the communities (Flemish, French, and German-speaking) hold the main competence for sports policy.<\/p>\n<p>Each region has a governmental agency: Sport Vlaanderen (Flemish Community); ADEPS (French Community) and Ostbelgien Sportf\u00f6rderung (German-speaking Community).<\/p>\n<p>The Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC) acts as the national coordinating body for Olympic and interfederal matters.<\/p>\n<p>At the federal level, one of the most significant statutes is the Employment Act of Paid Athletes of 24 February 1978, which regulates the employment relationship between professional athletes and their clubs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Advertising and marketing in sport: which are the limitations foreseen in your country, for instance in relation to alcohol, tobacco or betting advertising on or around sports infrastructure, on official clothing, etc.?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Tobacco advertising in sports is strictly prohibited in Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2025, betting advertising has been prohibited in sports arenas and other sporting infrastructure. The rules regarding sports clothing are more complex: betting advertising has been forbidden on sportswear for teams with minor participants since 2023; further restrictions apply from 2025, and by 2028 a total prohibition on betting advertising on official sports clothing will enter into force.<\/p>\n<p>Alcohol advertising is not subject to sport-specific legislation, but is governed by general advertising standards, for example restrictions relating to minors and responsible consumption messaging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Match-fixing: How is match-fixing and other forms of match manipulation combated in your country? Has your country ratified the Macolin Convention? What is the role of the sports betting industry in your country and is it subject to any specific state regulations?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium established a National Platform against Match-Fixing in 2016, facilitating cooperation between the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC), sports federations, governmental bodies, the Federal Judicial Police, and the Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office. Within the police, a specialised Sports Fraud Team investigates cases involving manipulation and corruption in sport.<\/p>\n<p>Belgium ratified the Council of Europe\u2019s Macolin Convention on 1 July 2024, and it entered into force on 1 November 2024.<\/p>\n<p>There is no standalone criminal provision on match-fixing in Belgium. Prosecutors rely primarily on existing offences such as private bribery (Articles 504bis\u2013504ter of the Belgian Criminal Code). However, these provisions do not cover every situation, as they require that the bribery occur without the knowledge of the bribee\u2019s employer or principal \u2014 a condition not met in some cases of individual athletes without employer or when employers themselves participate in the fix. To address this gap, other offences are frequently invoked, including swindling (Article 496 BCC), (IT) forgery (Articles 193 and 210bis BCC), abuse of trust (Article 491 BCC), and money laundering (Article 505 BCC).<\/p>\n<p>The Belgian Gaming Commission regulates the sports-betting sector, issues licences, requires operators to implement reporting and monitoring mechanisms, and investigates suspicious betting patterns. The Gambling Act of 7 May 1999 remains the key statute. It expressly prohibits participation in bets by anyone who can directly influence the outcome of the event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is there an institution safeguarding the integrity across sports in your country, e.g. ethics and doping violations or abuse cases? Which rules does such an institution apply?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Integrity in sport in Belgium is decentralised and organised at the community level.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding anti-doping, there are four competent agencies, each operating under its own decree and disciplinary framework: NADO Flanders (Flemish Community); ONAD-ADEPS (French Community); NADO GGC Brussel (Common Community Commission of the Brussels-Capital Region) and DG Sportf\u00f6rderung (German Community).<\/p>\n<p>Integrity and ethics matters are likewise handled separately within each community. In the French Community, these are managed by ADEPS under its integrity decree. In the Flemish Community, Sport Vlaanderen oversees policy, while an independent expertise and reporting centre, SportieQ, addresses integrity prevention. In addition, a separate disciplinary body, the Flemish Sports Tribunal (Vlaams Sporttribunaal), adjudicates cases involving harassment, abuse, and other integrity violations in sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is corruption in sport regulated in your country? Is corruption between private individuals subject to criminal or civil liability and are there any sport specific corruption regulations?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium relies on existing criminal law provisions to address corruption in sport, rather than a sport-specific statute. The key provisions are private corruption (Articles 504bis\u2013504ter of the Belgian Criminal Code) and public corruption (Article 246 BCC).<\/p>\n<p>While there are no dedicated sport-specific corruption laws, most sports federations apply their own integrity codes and disciplinary rules to sanction unethical conduct, in parallel with potential criminal liability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How is fan behavior regulated by law (for example banning orders, criminal penalties for violence, specific laws addressing measures against violence at sporting events etc.)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Fan behaviour in Belgium is governed with regards to football by the Law of 21 December 1998 on the Security of Football Matches, which establishes both administrative and criminal procedures depending on the severity of the offence.<\/p>\n<p>Under the administrative route, the Football Cell of the Federal Public Service of the Interior may impose fines and stadium bans (banning orders) for violations such as violence, discriminatory behaviour, or the use of pyrotechnics. In more serious cases, the matter is handled through the criminal courts.<\/p>\n<p>The law also obliges clubs and federations to adopt security plans and implement preventive safety measures.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) provides a third avenue, namely a civil exclusion procedure established under its internal regulations, allowing clubs to exclude supporters independently of administrative or criminal proceedings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What legal frameworks exist around the ownership and governance of professional sports clubs (e.g. foreign ownership restrictions, fan ownership models, licensing requirements)?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium does not have any well-known fan-ownership models. n the governmental level, there are no specific licensing or approval requirements for acquisitions.<\/p>\n<p>Professional clubs are typically incorporated as a public limited company (NV\/SA) or private limited company (BV\/SRL), while smaller or amateur clubs are usually structured as non-profit associations (vzw\/asbl). The acquisition of a football club organised as a company is not subject to stricter rules than the acquisition of any other commercial enterprise.<\/p>\n<p>However, several sports federations, most notably the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), impose licensing requirements at the regulatory level. In cooperation with the Flemish and French amateur federations and public authorities, the RBFA has recently tightened its licensing criteria for the highest amateur divisions, following a series of foreign investments and club bankruptcies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do you observe an increase in multi-sport ownership in your country, either across various sports or within one sport or sports discipline?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Multi-sport ownership structures in Belgium are primarily observed in football. The sector has become increasingly attractive to foreign investors, and the majority of Belgian professional clubs are now owned, wholly or partly, by foreign shareholders.<\/p>\n<p>A notable example is Lommel SK, a second-division club that forms part of the City Football Group.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any mandatory national provisions, apart from regulations of international sports governing bodies, which regulate athlete representation in your jurisdiction and are there specific limitations to the representation of athletes, such as e.g. provisions regarding dual representation, caps on agent commissions, regulations on the protection of minor athletes?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium has strict but regionally differentiated rules governing athlete representation and sports agents. Each Community (Flemish, French, and Brussels-Capital) regulates labour mediation services, and these provisions apply to sports agents. In some cases, violations may even result in criminal sanctions.<\/p>\n<p>The Flemish Decree of 10 December 2010 on Private Employment Services provides the strictest framework. It grants the athlete the right to terminate the representation contract freely, prohibits penalty clauses upon termination, and forbids exclusivity clauses. Agents are also prohibited from contacting athletes under the age of 15 or charging any fee for labour mediation involving minors. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has extended these protections with regards to minors to all registered football agents in Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>The Ordinance of 14 July 2011 on the mixed management of the labour market in the Brussels-Capital Region requires that every contract contain a clear and specific termination clause, enabling the athlete to understand the legal and financial consequences. Exclusivity clauses are prohibited.<\/p>\n<p>In the Walloon Region, the Decree of 3 April 2009 on the registration and recognition of employment agencies imposes a similar obligation to include a detailed termination clause. However, exclusivity clauses sare permitted under Walloon law.<\/p>\n<p>Sports agents must be officially registered as labour mediators in each of the Communities where they operate, and in Flanders an additional financial guarantee of EUR 25,000 is required. Dual representation is not prohibited under Belgian law.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there national statutory frameworks, apart from regulations of international sports governing bodies, or cases concerning the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sport in your country? How is the issue currently regulated and\/or debated?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium has no specific statutory framework governing the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sport. The matter is addressed through general anti-discrimination legislation, in particular the Gender Equality Act of 10 May 2007, which prohibits discrimination based on gender.<\/p>\n<p>An important judgment was delivered by the Brussels Court of First Instance on 10 July 2025 in a case brought by a transgender cyclist and the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men against the Belgian Cycling Federation and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The court found that the UCI\u2019s eligibility regulations &#8211; which, among other criteria, required gender transition before the age of 12 &#8211; violated the Belgian gender law. The judge declared the rules null and void and ordered the federation to allow the athlete to participate in national competitions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the legal framework for e-sports in your jurisdiction? Is there a specific Statute or Code in your country or motions to implement such?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Belgium has no specific statutory framework governing e-sports. The sector is regulated through the general legal framework applicable to areas such as intellectual property, contract law, labour law, and gambling regulation.<\/p>\n<p>The Belgian Gaming Commission, which supervises the gambling sector, has issued guidance confirming that betting on e-sports is legally classified as betting on events, which has a strict regime, rather than betting on sports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Which has been the leading sports law case of the past year in your country?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Sports law cases that reach the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) often have their origins in Belgium, as was the case with the landmark Bosman judgment.<\/p>\n<p>A recent and highly significant example is Diarra v. FIFA and the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA). The Court of Appeal of Mons referred questions to the CJEU for a preliminary ruling. On 4 October 2024, the CJEU delivered its judgment in Case C-650\/22, holding that FIFA\u2019s international transfer regulations for football players (the RSTP) are incompatible with EU law, particularly with respect to the principles of free movement and competition.<\/p>\n<p>The proceedings are now continuing before the Court of Appeal of Mons, which must implement the CJEU\u2019s ruling in its final national judgment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What other sports law topic(s) would you highlight as being very current and relevant in your country?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>An interesting development in Belgian sports law is the increasing influence of competition law on sporting governance. Over the past few years, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has taken a far more active role in reviewing the rules, structures, and commercial practices of sports federations.<\/p>\n<p>While licensing systems, and more recently competition formats, in Belgian professional football have long attracted scrutiny, similar principles are also applied to equipment and technical regulations in other sports. The different cases against billiards federations raised questions about exclusive supply arrangements imposed by federations, and more recently, proceedings involving the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) have examined potential restrictions on innovation through gear-ratio limitations in competitive cycling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<div class=\"word-count-hidden\" style=\"display:none;\">Estimated word count: <span class=\"word-count\">2274<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/twentyseventeen\/src\/jquery\/components\/filter-guides.js\" async><\/script><\/div>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/118876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}