Confidence in the way sports are governed is the key to long-term success

Good Governance is dependent upon:

clearly defined responsibilities
transparency in the way these responsibilities are defined, monitored and enforced

Sport is attracting more attention from politicians and legislators because of its key role in influencing social and cultural behaviour

The rapid development of sports rights values has alerted British and European legislators to the threats of anti-competition practices and restraint of trade issues

Judicial intervention could undermine the principles of self-regulation upon which sport is based

However, the European Council (Nice 2000) declared its support for the independence of sports organisations and their right to organise themselves

But stressed that this was conditional upon the sports observing the principles of good Corporate Governance

SIMPLE MESSAGE - Sport is entitled to have its special status recognised but it must earn that status. Otherwise, there will be pressure to apply laws treating sport like any other commercial organisation.