Changes introduced to the law prioritise fan safety, render sports scene more orderly A new era is dawning for Egyptian sports following the latest approval of amendments to Sports Law No. 71 of 2017 by the House of Representatives. These reforms, proposed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and advocated by Minister Ashraf Sobhi, are designed to align Egyptian sports with international standards, particularly the Olympic Charter and the regulations of the International Olympic Committee. The newly approved amendments create a robust framework to foster community development through sports, striking a vital balance between the independence of sports’ bodies and the necessary governmental oversight. Central to the amendments is the introduction of limits to the terms of the members of sports bodies. Membership in the boards of sports’ bodies will be limited to three consecutive terms, or 12 years, consequently promoting leadership change and infusing the required dynamism into sports organizations. Speaking to The Egyptian Mail on the reasons behind these sweeping changes, Spokesman for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mohamed el-Shazlydescribed the amendments as a direct response to fundamental needs, most notably ensuring compliance with the Olympic Charter and the regulations of the International Olympic Committee. The amendments, he said, aim to enhance the role of sports as a vital means of community development and achieve balance between independence and oversight. “This is accomplished by adopting a philosophy that guarantees the independence of sports’ bodies while simultaneously granting the state, represented by administrative bodies, specific oversight powers to ensure compliance with the law and prevent deviations, all without compromising the fundamental principle of sports independence,” el-Shazly said. He explained that another key driver for these amendments was the need to correct legal concepts and address practical problems and divergent interpretations that have previously led to conflicts and crises within the sports community. By rectifying these issues, the new law aims to achieve greater stability within the sports system and prevent future crises, el-Shazly said. He pointed out that the amendments seek to expand the powers of administrative bodies; reform the institutional system of sports; enhance integrity, andactively encourage sports investment. “They also aim to advance academic performance through the establishment of a dedicated sports research centre,” el-Shazly said. He noted that the Ministry would issue the executive regulations of the amended Sports Law soon. As a step, he said, this would empower administrative bodies with crucial oversight powers over general assemblies’ procedures and club bylaws. Crucially, this will allow for the possibility of merging sports clubs facing hardships to achieve organizational efficiency and streamline operations, el-Shazly added. He stressed the importance of full coordination with international institutions, particularly the International Olympic Committee (IOC). He revealed that the new amendments were sent to the IOC after communication with the committee’s legal officer and MP Aya Madani, a member of the IOC, to ensure the law’s comprehensive compliance with the Olympic Charter. Minister Sobhi had previously revealed that his ministry would work to revamp the governance of the sports arbitration system and the sports investment system. We will also work to provide, the minister added, the necessary legislative support to implement the directives of the political leadership following the Paris Olympics by addressing any issues that may have arisen in the last period. El-Shazly dwelt on the impact the new amendments would have on fan attendance and match organization. The amendments, he said, introduce new punitive provisions specifically aimed at protecting the essential elements of the sports system, including the safety of fans and sports facilities. He described this measure as a “critical step”towards providing a safe and secure environment that ensures the orderly attendance of fans without disrupting public security or causing harm to stadium infrastructure. “The ultimate goal is to support the safe and sustainable return of fans to sports venues,” the spokesman for the Ministry of Youth and Sports said. He cited agreement between the International Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Youth and Sports on the amendments. “This alignment is particularly significant regarding the terms of candidacy for the boards of directors, where it was agreed that they would be three terms without retroactive application, which is fully consistent with the Olympic Charter,” el-Shazly concluded.