{"id":151638,"date":"2026-11-03T14:29:23","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:29:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=151638"},"modified":"2026-11-03T16:13:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T16:13:56","slug":"spain-sports-law","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/spain-sports-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain: Sports Law"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-151638","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-sports-law","jurisdictions-spain"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Clifford Chance<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2019\/12\/clifford_chance-2-2.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Clifford Chance<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2019\/12\/clifford_chance-2-2.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 Spain<\/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>Yes. Spain has a dedicated administrative sports tribunal, the <strong>Sports Administrative Tribunal<\/strong> (<em>Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte<\/em>), regulated by Royal Decree 53\/2014. The Sports Administrative Tribunal is a collegiate body of the Spanish state administration, attached to but acting independently of the Sports High Council (<em>Consejo Superior de Deportes<\/em>) (the &#8220;<strong>CSD<\/strong>&#8220;), which decides in last administrative instance sports disciplinary matters under Organic Law 3\/2013, disciplinary appeals referred under Article 114 of Law 39\/2022 (the &#8220;<strong>Sports Act<\/strong>&#8220;), and the legality of federations&#8217; internal electoral processes.<\/p>\n<p>Alongside the Sports Administrative Tribunal, each sports federation (e.g. the Spanish Football Federation (<em>Real Federaci\u00f3n Espa\u00f1ola de F\u00fatbol<\/em>) (the &#8220;<strong>RFEF<\/strong>&#8220;)) has its own internal disciplinary bodies for sporting sanctions. For commercial and civil disputes, Spain also has arbitration-based alternative dispute resolution (&#8220;<strong>ADR<\/strong>&#8220;) mechanisms.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, in the Spanish domestic professional football league (&#8220;<strong>LaLiga<\/strong>&#8220;) operates the <strong>Football Arbitration Tribunal<\/strong> (<em>Tribunal Arbitral del F\u00fatbol<\/em>), which resolves, through conciliation or arbitration procedures in accordance with the terms set out in Law 60\/2003 (the &#8220;<strong>Arbitration Act<\/strong>&#8220;), inter-club economic and contractual disputes between LaLiga and its members, or among the members themselves. However, LaLiga&#8217;s bylaws expressly exclude from arbitration, among others, labour disputes, matters requiring the intervention of the Public Prosecutor, questions relating to the CSD&#8217;s own regulatory functions, doping and anti-doping control, and disputes over public subsidies.<\/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>Spanish sports law is codified primarily through the Sports Act, which regulates and sets the regulatory framework for the development and practice of sports activities in general. Other relevant legislation includes: (i) Royal Decree-Law 5\/2015 (the &#8220;<strong>Football<\/strong> <strong>Broadcasting Act<\/strong>&#8220;); and (ii) Organic Law 11\/2021, on the fight against doping in sport (the &#8220;<strong>Anti-Doping Act<\/strong>&#8220;).<\/p>\n<p>The Sports Act is complemented by extensive secondary legislation, including, among others: (i) Royal Decree 1835\/1991, on Spanish Sports Federations (the &#8220;<strong>Federations Regulation<\/strong>&#8220;); (ii) Royal Decree 1251\/1999, on Spanish sports public limited companies (<em>Sociedades An\u00f3nimas Deportivas<\/em>) (&#8220;<strong>SADs<\/strong>&#8220;) (the &#8220;<strong>SAD Regulation<\/strong>&#8220;); and (iii) Royal Decree 460\/2015, approving the Statute of the CSD (the &#8220;<strong>CSD Regulation<\/strong>&#8220;).<\/p>\n<p>The main national sports authority is the CSD, which is a public body forming part of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport. Pursuant to the Sports Act and the CSD Regulation, the CSD is entrusted with the following key functions: (i) carrying out the economic, financial and administrative control of state-level sports entities; (ii) approving the statutes and regulations of Spanish sports federations; (iii) agreeing with the Spanish sports federations on their objectives, sports programmes, budgets and organisational and functional structures; (iv) allowing or denying, with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the holding of official international sports competitions in Spanish territory; and (v) authorising significant shareholding acquisitions in SADs.<\/p>\n<p>Other bodies with sector-specific oversight include the State Agency Spanish Commission for the Fight Against Doping in Sport (<em>Agencia Estatal Comisi\u00f3n Espa\u00f1ola para la Lucha Antidopaje en el Deporte<\/em>), the Sports Administrative Tribunal, the National Gambling Commission and the Director-General for the Regulation of Gambling.<\/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>Sports advertising and marketing in Spain is governed by a combination of general audiovisual advertising law and sport-specific commercial regulations. Under Law 13\/2022 (the &#8220;<strong>Audiovisual Communication Act<\/strong>&#8220;), there is an absolute ban on audiovisual advertising of tobacco products. The Audiovisual Communication Act also heavily restricts alcohol advertising: alcoholic drinks above 20 degrees may only be advertised between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m., and drinks up to 20 degrees between 8:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., subject to certain exceptions, with an additional ban on ads that suggest alcohol improves physical performance or is linked to sporting, social or professional success. Additionally, the Audiovisual Communication Act restricts gambling and betting advertising on audiovisual media to broadcast between 1:00 and 5:00 a.m., save for certain exceptions (e.g. lottery advertising), and always prohibits such advertising alongside programmes with a likely child audience.<\/p>\n<p>Sport-specific advertising rules are also set by competition organisers: <strong>LaLiga&#8217;s Television Broadcasting Regulation <\/strong>(<em>Reglamento para la Retransmisi\u00f3n Televisiva<\/em>) regulates in granular detail the size, placement and permitted content of pitch-side, kit, technical-area and press-room advertising, and expressly bans the display of alcoholic beverages (including non-alcoholic beer) in press rooms and other stadium areas during broadcasts. It should be noted, however, that LaLiga&#8217;s Television Broadcasting Regulation has been partially annulled by the Spanish courts at the request of Real Madrid C.F. As a result, its provisions can only validly cover matters falling within the scope of the Football Broadcasting Act, that is, audiovisual content comprising events taking place on the pitch, including the areas of the sports venue visible from it, from two minutes before the scheduled start of the sporting event until one minute after its conclusion, as defined by the Football Broadcasting Act itself.<\/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><em><u>Match-fixing<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Spain combats match-fixing through a dual administrative-and-criminal system, complemented by a dedicated inter-institutional coordination body.<\/p>\n<p>At administrative sports-law level, the Sports Act classifies as a very serious infringement any action aimed at predetermining, through payment, intimidation or simple agreements, the result of a sporting event or competition, whether or not the conduct ultimately affects the result, as well as, more generally, any action amounting to an attempt to alter the normal course of a sporting competition or activity.<\/p>\n<p>For these very serious infringements, the Sports Act provides for sanctions such as fines, loss of points or category, closure of facilities, disqualification from holding sporting office and suspension of federative licence.<\/p>\n<p>At criminal-law level, the Organic Law 10\/1995, approving the Spanish Criminal Code (the &#8220;<strong>Criminal Code<\/strong>&#8220;), extends the private-sector corruption offences to directors, officers, employees and collaborators of sports organisations, irrespective of their legal form, as well as to athletes, referees and judges, where the relevant conduct is intended deliberately and fraudulently to predetermine or alter the outcome of a sporting event or competition of particular economic or sporting relevance. As a result, both the offering or granting and the requesting or acceptance of an unjustified benefit or advantage may constitute an offence. The penalties include imprisonment, special disqualification from engaging in industry or commerce and a fine ranging from the value to three times the value of the benefit or advantage.<\/p>\n<p>Spain has also established a national cooperation mechanism through Order PCI\/759\/2019, of 9 July, which created the National Commission for Combating the Manipulation of Sports Competitions and Betting Fraud. The Commission&#8217;s statutory purpose is to prevent and combat competition manipulation and betting fraud through coordinated action among its members. Its membership includes, among others, representatives of the Director-General for the Regulation of Gambling, Spain&#8217;s state law-enforcement agencies (i.e. the Spanish National Police (<em>Polic\u00eda Nacional<\/em>) and the Spanish Civil Guard (<em>Guardia Civil<\/em>)), the Director-General for Sport, the CSD, the Spanish sports federations, the professional leagues and professional athletes&#8217; associations.<\/p>\n<p><em><u>Macolin Convention<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Spain signed the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, commonly known as the Macolin Convention, on 7 July 2015. Spain deposited its instrument of ratification on 17 October 2024, and the Macolin Convention took effect for Spain on 1 February 2025.<\/p>\n<p><em><u>Sports betting industry and state regulation<\/u><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sports betting conducted at national level is principally governed by Law 13\/2011, on Gambling (the &#8220;<strong>Gambling Act<\/strong>&#8220;). State-wide gambling activities are supervised by the Director-General for the Regulation of Gambling, while land-based activities whose scope is limited to a particular Autonomous Community are generally subject to the applicable regional legislation.<\/p>\n<p>The Gambling Act prohibits athletes, coaches and other direct participants from betting on the sporting event or activity in which they participate. The prohibition also applies to directors of sports entities participating in or organising the relevant event, as well as to judges, referees and persons responsible for reviewing their decisions in relation to that event or activity. Likewise, the Gambling Act expressly entrusts the gambling regulator with combating fraud in gambling activities, including sports-betting fraud, and collaborating with the competent authorities in preventing and combating fraud and the manipulation of sports 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\">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>Several institutions safeguard integrity across different areas. For anti-doping matters, the State Agency Spanish Commission for the Fight Against Doping in Sport, created under the <strong>Anti-Doping Act<\/strong>, acts with full functional independence in establishing and enforcing doping controls, applying the World Anti-Doping Code and its international anti-doping standards as incorporated into Spanish law. Disciplinary appeals in doping matters are decided by the Sports Administrative Tribunal.<\/p>\n<p>For governance and ethics, the Sports Act requires sports federations and professional leagues to adopt a Good Governance Code (<em>C\u00f3digo de Buen Gobierno<\/em>) addressing conflicts of interest, governance risk plans after each presidential election, and mandatory whistleblowing channels and sanctioning regimes; sports federations such as the RFEF have adopted their own compliance and anti-corruption frameworks. In addition, the Sports Act classifies conduct contrary to the integrity of sporting competitions as a sanctionable infringement, with the Sports Administrative Tribunal acting as the competent sanctioning body.<\/p>\n<p>For safety and public order, Law 19\/2007 establishes the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport (<em>Comisi\u00f3n Estatal contra la Violencia, el Racismo, la Xenofobia y la Intolerancia en el Deporte<\/em>) which is responsible for coordinating measures aimed at preventing violent, racist, xenophobic and intolerant conduct in sport and for proposing sanctions where appropriate. The Commission&#8217;s structure and operation are further regulated by Royal Decree 748\/2008.<\/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>Spain regulates corruption in sport through a combination of criminal law, civil liability and sport-specific disciplinary rules.<\/p>\n<p>Corruption in sport falls under the general framework of the Spanish Criminal Code, which criminalises active and passive corruption between private individuals in commercial dealings.<\/p>\n<p>Criminal liability may be accompanied by civil liability arising from the offence, including restitution, reparation of damage and compensation for losses caused. Independently of criminal proceedings, affected parties may also seek damages under the general rules of Spanish civil law. Therefore, corruption between private individuals is principally a criminal matter but may also produce civil consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Sports governing bodies supplement this general framework with their own compliance rules. For instance, the RFEF has approved an Anti-Corruption Policy (<em>Pol\u00edtica <\/em><em>Anticorrupci\u00f3n<\/em>). This policy applies to any person having a direct or indirect relationship with the RFEF, whether professional, contractual or of any other nature, including employees, suppliers, sponsors, members of collegiate bodies and any third party entering into a contract with the RFEF.<\/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 is regulated primarily by Law 19\/2007, against violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport, and its implementing Royal Decree 203\/2010, which approves the regulations on the prevention of violence, racism, xenophobia and intolerance in sport.<\/p>\n<p>Law 19\/2007 bans alcohol, drugs and dangerous objects from venues; prohibits entry to anyone carrying weapons, exhibiting violent or discriminatory banners, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Likewise, it sets the conditions of permanence in the venue, breach of which leads to immediate expulsion. Under Article 25 (in conjunction with the general sanctioning regime of Title III), persons sanctioned with a final banning order lose their season ticket or membership status for the duration of the sanction, and identity-verification procedures may be used to enforce stadium banning orders. Additionally, Law 19\/2007 establishes that liability is both administrative (fines and banning orders overseen by the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport) and, for players, technical staff and other persons subject to sports discipline, disciplinary under the applicable sports federation&#8217;s internal rules when the conduct occurs in the exercise of their sporting function; none of this is prejudicial to potential criminal liability for violent conduct under the Criminal Code.<\/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>In Spain, the Sports Act provides that professional sports clubs may take the form of sports associations (<em>Clubes deportivos<\/em>) (&#8220;<strong>Sports Clubs<\/strong>&#8220;) or SADs.<\/p>\n<p>The ownership and governance of professional sports clubs are principally governed by the Sports Act, Royal Legislative Decree 1\/2010 (the &#8220;<strong>Spanish Companies Act<\/strong>&#8220;), their by-laws and, in the case of SADs, additionally by the SAD Regulation and the regulations of the relevant sports federations and professional leagues. In the case of Sports Clubs, Organic Law 1\/2002, on the Right of Association, and Royal Decree 1835\/1991, on Spanish Sports Federations and the Registry of Sports Associations, also apply.<\/p>\n<p>Professional sports clubs may participate in professional sports competitions either as Sports Clubs or SADs, provided that they are duly incorporated and registered with, or affiliated to: (i) the State Registry of Sports Entities, which is managed by the CSD; (ii) the relevant sports federation; and (iii) the relevant professional league.<\/p>\n<p>The Spanish legal framework does not establish a specific prohibition on foreign ownership of professional sports clubs. Foreign investors may therefore acquire interests in SADs, subject to the generally applicable Spanish foreign direct investment regime, in particular Law 19\/2003 on the legal regime of capital movements and economic transactions with third countries, as developed by Royal Decree 571\/2023 on foreign investments.<\/p>\n<p>However, sports-specific ownership controls apply irrespective of the investor&#8217;s nationality. Any acquisition or disposal resulting in a person holding, or ceasing to hold, at least 5% of the voting rights in an entity participating in a professional competition must be notified to the CSD. In addition, prior authorisation from the CSD is required for an acquisition resulting in a holding of 25% or more of the voting rights in a SAD.<\/p>\n<p>Restrictions also apply to multi-club ownership. In particular, a Sports Club or SAD may not hold an interest in another SAD participating in the same professional competition or in another competition within the same sporting discipline. Similarly, a person holding, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the voting rights in one SAD may not hold an equivalent interest in another SAD participating in the same competition or sporting discipline.<\/p>\n<p>As regards fan ownership, Spanish law permits professional teams to operate as Sports Clubs in which the members (<em>socios<\/em>) elect the governing bodies on a &#8220;one member, one vote&#8221; basis. The Sports Act also requires structured mechanisms for supporter participation. In the case of SADs, this includes supporter involvement in the appointment of an independent director charged with protecting the interests of fans and season-ticket holders.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, participation in professional competitions is subject to the economic, corporate, associative and sporting requirements imposed by the relevant professional sports league and sports federation. Professional sports leagues may establish financial and solvency conditions for admission to, and continued participation in, their 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\">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>Yes. Spain has experienced a noticeable increase in multi-club ownership, particularly within professional football, although the trend is less evident across different sports. In recent years, Spanish football clubs have increasingly become part of international ownership groups holding interests in clubs located in different jurisdictions. These structures may involve a Spanish club acting as the group&#8217;s principal club, a development or &#8220;feeder&#8221; club, or as part of a more horizontally integrated network. Notable examples include Girona FC, which has formed part of City Football Group&#8217;s multi-club structure since 2017, and RCD Espanyol, which forms part of ALK Capital&#8217;s multi-club structure. Spain is generally regarded as an increasingly attractive market for these investment models.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, ownership structures encompassing clubs or teams across different sports do not currently constitute such a clearly identifiable growth trend in Spain. Although several major Spanish sporting institutions have traditionally operated teams in more than one discipline, particularly football and basketball, this generally reflects the historic multi-sport structure of the relevant club rather than the recent acquisition-driven model commonly referred to as multi-sport ownership.<\/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>Although Spain does not currently have a comprehensive statutory regime specifically governing sports agents or athlete representation across all sports, this matter is delegated to the sports federative system. For instance, in football, agent representation is governed domestically by the RFEF National Football Agent Regulations (2023 edition) (<em>Reglamento Nacional de Agentes<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p>In the absence of specific regulations by the relevant sports federation, athlete representation agreements are primarily governed by the general rules of Spanish civil and commercial law on contracts, agency, and the provision of services, together with employment, consumer-protection and competition law where applicable. Additionally, representation agreements involving minor athletes must comply with the legislation protecting children and adolescents. Depending on the minor&#8217;s age and maturity and the nature of the transaction, the agreement will ordinarily require the participation or consent of the minor&#8217;s legal representatives. In all cases, the minor&#8217;s best interests must be treated as a primary consideration, and contractual arrangements must respect the minor&#8217;s personality rights, freedom of professional development and applicable limitations on the disposition of their rights.<\/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>Spain does not have a national statute specifically regulating the participation of transgender athletes in competitive sport. Rather, the issue is addressed through general equality, non-discrimination and LGTBI+ rights legislation, together with certain provisions contained in national and regional sports laws.<\/p>\n<p>The principal legal framework is provided by Law 4\/2023 (the &#8220;<strong>Trans Act<\/strong>&#8220;). While the Trans Act guarantees equality of treatment and opportunities for LGTBI+ persons generally, it contains only limited sport-specific provisions.<\/p>\n<p>In parallel, the Sports Act incorporates several principles aimed at promoting equality and preventing discrimination in sport. In particular, the Sports Act identifies the prevention and eradication of discrimination, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, as one of its objectives. Furthermore, it requires public authorities to implement policies ensuring equal access to and participation in sport and assigns the CSD responsibilities relating to the prevention of discrimination against women and LGTBI+ persons and the elimination of sex-based stereotypes in sport. In addition, the Sports Act mandates the CSD to collect information on the situation of LGTBI+ persons in sport in order to support the development of public policies aimed at combating LGTBIphobia.<\/p>\n<p>The Trans Act further addresses sport by requiring public authorities, within the framework of Law 19\/2007 on Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport, to promote respect for the principles of equality and non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender expression and sexual characteristics in sporting activities.<\/p>\n<p>However, neither the Trans Act nor the Sports Act establishes detailed eligibility criteria governing the participation of transgender athletes in federated competitions. Instead, the Trans Act expressly provides that participation in federated sporting activities, events and competitions is subject to the applicable national, regional and international regulations, including anti-doping rules, insofar as such rules pursue the legitimate objective of preventing competitive advantages contrary to the principle of equality and do so in a justified and proportionate manner.<\/p>\n<p>Accordingly, Spanish law primarily establishes a framework based on equality and non-discrimination, while leaving the regulation of competitive eligibility and participation criteria for transgender athletes largely to the rules adopted by the relevant national and international sports federations.<\/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>Spain does not currently have a specific legal framework governing e-sports. Competitive video gaming is not recognised as a &#8220;<em>modalidad deportiva<\/em>&#8221; under the Sports Act&#8217;s general recognition mechanism, which leaves the recognition of new sporting modalities and specialities of state-wide scope to the CSD, on application by those practising or organising them, but such recognition has not been granted to e-sports for the time being. In the absence of sport-specific status, e-sports competitions, teams, players, sponsorship and media-rights arrangements in Spain are governed by the ordinary bodies of law that would apply to any other commercial and entertainment activity: general civil and commercial law for organiser\/team\/player contracts and sponsorship agreements, labour law where a player or caster is engaged as an employee, intellectual-property law for the underlying games and broadcasts, consumer-protection law for spectators and in-game purchases.<\/p>\n<p>Notwithstanding the absence of a specific statutory framework governing e-sports, Spain has a well-established professional e-sports ecosystem, led by the <em>Liga de Videojuegos Profesional<\/em> (<em>LVP<\/em>), one of the leading e-sports organisers in Europe. The LVP operates primarily through self-regulation, with competitions governed by its own internal rules, competition regulations and disciplinary frameworks rather than by dedicated e-sports legislation. Spanish teams and players compete at the highest international level across a wide range of video game titles. Given the maturity and economic significance of the sector, it is conceivable that a dedicated legal framework may be introduced in the future, however, at present, there are no legislative proposals or governmental initiatives under consideration in this regard.<\/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>The leading Spanish sports-law case of the past year has been the European Super League litigation. During the past year, the Court of Appeal of Madrid dismissed the appeals brought by UEFA, LaLiga and the RFEF against the May 2024 judgment of Madrid Commercial Court No. 17. It thereby confirmed the finding that the prior-authorisation rules of international football competitions and related conduct of UEFA and FIFA infringed Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>The case is particularly significant because it crystallised the principles established by the Court of Justice of the European Union in its December 2023 preliminary ruling. The Madrid Provincial Court confirmed that a sports governing body which both regulates the market and organises commercial competitions cannot make access to that market dependent on a prior-authorisation regime that is not governed by transparent, objective, precise, non-discriminatory and proportionate substantive criteria and procedural rules, together with effective judicial review.<\/p>\n<p>This judgement has been challenged before the Spanish Supreme Court by UEFA, LaLiga and the RFEF. The resolution by the Spanish Supreme Court is still pending.<\/p>\n<p>Its importance extends beyond football. The judgment reinforces the principle that the regulatory autonomy and the specific characteristics of sport do not exempt sports governing bodies from competition-law scrutiny. Rules restricting market access or the organisation of rival competitions must be based on clear and reviewable criteria and must be applied in a transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate manner. Spanish sports-law commentary has therefore identified the domestic follow-up to the Court of Justice of the European Union&#8217;s Super League ruling as one of Spain&#8217;s key sports-law developments of 2025.<\/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>There are several decisions rendered by the Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (<em>Comisi\u00f3n Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia<\/em>) (the &#8220;<strong>CNMC<\/strong>&#8220;) and several ongoing disputes before civil courts in relation to the scope of the powers delegated by the Law to the professional football leagues (male and female) and the RFEF in relation to the commercialisation of football broadcasting rights.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the governance of the professional leagues and the involvement of investment funds in those entities are currently subject to judicial scrutiny.<\/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\">4284<\/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:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/151638","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}