Football referee in a green uniform pulling out a yellow card during a match.

Sports Regulation & Disciplinary

At DJMS, we understand that any regulatory or criminal allegations against sportspeople require very careful handling to minimise the impact on their reputations and careers. Our specialist lawyers are experienced in representing a wide range of sports professionals and others connected with the world of sport, including:

Players
Athletes
Coaches
Managers
Directors
Agents
Trainers
Sports officials – referees, umpires, etc.

The specialist lawyers at DJMS are familiar with the wide range of sporting regulatory bodies, including:

Football Association (FA)
English Football League (EFL)
UK Anti-Doping
Rugby Football Union (RFU)
British Showjumping
British Athletics
British Cycling
British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC)
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Why choose DJMS Solicitors

Whether at grassroots level or professional, if you are a player, athlete, or anyone else working in sport facing a criminal or regulatory issue, our specialist solicitors are ideally placed to provide the advice and support you need.

With extensive experience in this complex and sometimes high-profile area, we provide exceptional legal advice tailored to the unique needs of sportspeople. We have a proven track record of securing excellent results while maintaining discretion and confidentiality.

Examples of the types of work we undertake include:

Representing and advising on all sports-related criminal law matters, from road traffic, drug, and public order offences to sexual offences and violent crime.
Representing and advising on sports-related regulatory investigations and proceedings, including anti-doping, disorderly behaviour, match/spot-fixing, and professional discipline.
Providing urgent advice and representation at pre-charge interviews by the police, regulatory bodies, or internal investigations.
Collating strong evidence in support of our clients’ defence.
Preparing robust defences to all types of sports-related regulatory and/or criminal law allegations, working with barristers and forensic experts where necessary.
Working with sportspeople, their managers, or agents to devise a strategy for addressing the issue as swiftly and discreetly as possible.

Sports Regulation & Disciplinary FAQs

Can I be prosecuted for something I do on the pitch?

Yes, whilst it is relatively rare, you can be prosecuted for something you do while playing your sport. For example, if you deliberately headbutt an opponent, you may be charged with assault. The law in this area is incredibly complex, so you should seek expert legal advice from experienced solicitors like us as soon as it becomes apparent that there may be an issue.

When might I be convicted for something that I did on the pitch?

The English Courts have historically been reluctant to convict sportspeople for acts they commit while playing their sport, reserving convictions for acts that are ‘sufficiently grave’ to warrant one. They draw a line between ‘on the ball’ and ‘off the ball’ offences and tend to be more willing to convict a defendant for off the ball offences, leaving the relevant sports disciplinary body to deal with on the ball offences. On the ball offences occur when the sportsperson is engaged in an act intrinsic to their sport, such as a tackle in football, whereas off the ball offences are those that take place away from the action.

However, the Courts don’t shy away from convicting sportspeople for acts that amount to wilful violence, whether committed on or off the ball. For example, in 2010, amateur footballer Mark Chapman was jailed for 6 months for causing grievous bodily harm to an opponent whose leg he broke during a tackle.

The Courts will consider various factors when deciding whether a sportsperson’s acts crossed the line between vigorous play and criminality. They include whether the sport was contact or non-contact, the degree of force used, and the defendant’s state of mind. When defending charges of this nature on your behalf, our specialist sports lawyers will gather all available evidence to support a finding that you were merely playing your sport and should therefore not be convicted of a criminal act.

Can I be investigated by both my governing body and the police for something I do on the pitch?

Where you have committed a criminal act, you may face investigations by both your governing body and the police. If the police decide to open a formal investigation into the matter, they will likely ask your governing body to suspend their activities and allow the police to take the lead.