The player’s penal responsibility for the actions of violence in sports: legal analysis in context of United Arab Emirates law

Abstract

This study deals with the issue of the player’s penal responsibility for acts of violence in sports; it aims at briefing the important legal issues related to this subject and clarifying the position of the UAE legislator on a player’s criminal liability for sports injuries and acts of violence in sports by researching the legal framework for sports injuries and sports accidents that occur during sports competitions. The study concluded that to be exempt from criminal liability in sports competitions, the game must be one of the games recognized by sports games laws, it must have recognized rules, and the acts of violence committed during the match must not violate the game rules. Also, the UAE has included sports insurance in certain sports activities as a club obligation, so any player registered with the relevant association is not allowed to participate in sports activities managed by the union unless this player is insured under a contract of insurance that includes the risks of death, permanent or temporary disability, sports injury, and medical expenses. The study suggests that the UAE legislature should pass a sports criminal law criminalizing the use of stimulants in sports.