SPORTS LAW THROUGH THE LENS OF POLITICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL LEGAL UNDERSTANDING IN THE CONTEXT OF HYBRID WAR

Abstract

The relevance of the issue of the essence of sports law is driven by the global challenges of today, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and the large-scale hybrid war. The pandemic caused temporary restrictions in sports, associated with quarantines, lockdowns, and vaccination requirements. In contrast, the consequences of the hybrid war are far more profound, affecting contractual, trade, diplomatic, and other spheres. For sports law, this necessitates a reevaluation of traditional approaches, as the positivist approach fails to effectively address contemporary challenges. The article aims to explore the essence of sports law by rethinking the concept of "law" and considering the impact of extraordinary circumstances on the regulation of sports relations. The methodological foundation of the study is based on a syncretic approach – combining political science and sociology – which takes into account the new conditions of legal regulation. An analysis of the issue shows that the questions of defining the essence, subject, method of regulation, and place of sports law within the legal system remain debatable. The specificity of esports as a separate component of sports law is also examined. Some researchers characterize sports law as a set of norms, yet they acknowledge the need for a deeper analysis of the legal system, postponing the resolution of these problems for the future. The article offers a new perspective on sports law, moving beyond its traditional understanding as a collection of legal norms. The proposed approach reflects the dynamic nature of modern legal regulation in the field of sports, particularly in the context of global challenges impacting legal systems as a whole.