BELGIUM Law and Practice Contributed by: Sven Demeulemeester, Willem-Alexander Devlies and Daan Buylaert, ATFiELD
Appeals process Athletes have the right to appeal the decision to a higher authority, such as the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sport (BAS/CBAS) or the Flemish Sports Tribunal. Examples of Notable Cases Doping cases Most of the notable Belgian anti-doping cases were decided on an international level by the international federation of the Court of Arbitra - tion for Sport, such as the recent case of Belgian cyclist Toon Aerts who was sanctioned with a two-year ban by the UCI. Betting violations In 2022, several lower-division players faced suspensions and fines for betting on matches that they were involved in, which demonstrates the strict enforcement of integrity rules. Match-fixing In 2023, several Belgian tennis players, including Arthur de Greef, were criminally convicted for acts of match-fixing. In addition, they were also suspended for two to four years by the Interna - tional Tennis Integrity Agency. 2. Commercial Rights 2.1 Available Sports-Related Rights Notable Sports-Related Commercial Rights in Belgium Beyond sponsorship and broadcasting rights, several other key commercial rights play a cru - cial role in the Belgian sports industry. These
images for use on products such as apparel, footwear and accessories. Merchandising agreements typically grant exclusive rights to manufacturers and retailers to produce and dis - tribute official products. Hospitality rights Major sporting events in Belgium, such as foot - ball matches, cycling races and tennis tourna - ments, offer premium hospitality packages. These packages include VIP seating, catering and exclusive access to lounges, providing a significant revenue stream for event organisers and clubs. Ticketing rights Sports organisations control ticket sales for events, with pricing strategies aimed at maxim - ising attendance and revenue. Partnerships with ticketing agencies allow for secure online and offline distribution. Secondary Ticket Sales and Measures Against Illegal Ticketing The resale of tickets, also known as secondary ticket sales, is a regulated practice in Belgium. The Belgian government has implemented sev - eral measures to combat illegal ticket sales, including the following. Legislation and regulation The Law of 30 July 2013 on the sale of event tickets prohibits the resale of tickets at a price higher than the original face value. Exceptions exist for officially authorised resale platforms that comply with consumer protection regula - tions. Enforcement and monitoring The Belgian Economic Inspectorate actively monitors online marketplaces and social media platforms to detect and take action against ille -
include the following. Merchandising rights
Sports teams, leagues and athletes monetise their brand by licensing their logos, names and
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