INFORM: Sports Law- March 2023

Here is the March edition of the ‘Inform: Sports Law’ publication. We endeavour to provide a synopsis of key developments in sports, esports, and gaming laws in India, as well as to engage with stakeholders in these fields.

The Indian sports arena continues to witness an increased focus on strengthening the regulatory framework through legislative changes and court pronouncements.

The highlights of the current issue are:

Updates – 

• BCCI Advisory for WPL Bans Collaboration with Crypto Entities.
• FIFA Introduces Football Legal Aid Fund for CAS to Provide Financial Assistance to Stakeholders.
• High-Level Committee Set Up by the Sports Ministry Ahead of Upcoming Olympics.
• AIFF Appeals Committee Imposes Fine Upon Real Kashmir FC for Violation of Hero I-League Regulations.
• IOC Welcomes UN Resolution to Secure Lasting Peace in Ukraine.
• Sports Ministry, NIPER Hyderabad and FSSAI Enter into Tripartite MoU to deal with Doping in Sports.
• Budget 2023 Envisages Levy of Tax on Online Game Winnings.
• Rohan Jaitley, President of DDCA, Faces Sexual Harassment Charges.
• AIFF Signs MoU with LNCPE Trivandrum to Set Up Centre for Referees Excellence.

Case Laws – 

• Delhi High Court Confirms that Sports Code Applies to Constituents of Kabaddi Federation.
• Life Ban Imposed on Yves Jean Bart, Former President of the Haitian Football Federation, Lifted.
• BFI Election Nominations Rejected on Flimsy Grounds: Delhi High Court.
• Deaf Sports Persons and Para Sports Persons Have to be Treated Equally: Delhi High Court.
• Issuance of GST Show Cause Notice to MyTeam11 is an Abuse of Process of Law: Rajasthan High Court.
• Former Supreme Court Judge L Nageswara Rao Appointed to Oversee HCA Elections.