PROBLEMS OF SETTLING LEGAL RELATIONS IN THE FIELD OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

Abstract

The article is devoted to the specifics of civil law regulation of public relations in the field of professional sports in the quarantine period. It is determined that the main areas of research in the field of legal regulation of professional sports relations during the pandemic are the specifics of contractual and non-contractual obligations by clubs and leagues in conditions of financial instability and the influence of external factors on competitions; the consequences of athletes' refusal to perform contact obligations due to the risk of infection; the effect of contractual obligations over time due to changes in the structure of the sports season; the possibility of considering a pandemic by force majeure and the corresponding consequences of such equating; compensation to clubs and leagues for the imposition of restrictions that lead to significant financial losses. It is proved that in game sports it is possible to use civil law agreements to regulate relations with the participation of professional athletes. Thus, it is substantiated that the peculiarities of the extension, performance or termination of such agreements are the subject of legal regulation of civil law. The expediency of extending the professional contracts of players until the end of the season in accordance with international norms has been proved, as this approach corresponds to the original intentions of the parties at the time of signing the contract, as well as preserves sports honesty and stability. The lack of absolute status of force majeure in relation to the situation with a pandemic and quarantine restrictions in the context of professional sports contracts has been determined. It is determined that the issue of fulfillment of contractual obligations to the owners of season tickets, prepaid tickets for sports competitions should be regulated by sports associations in cooperation with the executive authorities, whose powers include regulation and control over the organization of sports competitions. It has been proven that the issues of fulfillment of contractual obligations in the field of professional sports during the pandemic are not sufficiently regulated by the current legislation, and the settlement of disputes arising in this area is entrusted to international sports bodies. Legal regulation of these relations is under the jurisdiction of international sports federations, national associations and is based on the provisions of existing agreements (both individual and collective).