“The police do not want to mess with the fans”. A comment by a sports lawyer
Mikhail Prokopets, Head of Sports Law Practice of the Law Firm "YUST", spoke at the TV “Rain” channel about the consequences, which FC “Zenit” faces in connection with the firecracker thrown at the field by the club’s fan during the match against “Dinamo” last Saturday.
The firecracker exploded and injured Andrey Shunin, the goalkeeper of “Dinamo”, the game had to be interrupted. “Zenit”’s fate will be decided Thursday, November 22, at the session of the Disciplinary Committee of the Russian Football Union.
Mikhail Prokopets explained the difference between the liability, which may be imposed on the fans under sports law, and administrative proceedings. According to the sports law provisions, the club is responsible for the fans’ conduct, and technical defeat may be registered for it. The football club will likely pay a fine for its fans’ conduct.
However, “Zenit” may employ the provisions of administrative and criminal law to transfer the fine to the fan or to bring him to criminal liability for hooliganism.
Mikhail Prokopets also gave some forecasts regarding the provisions of the draft law “On fans”, which is currently under development.
Abridged version of the program.
Mikhail Prokopets’s detailed comment is available at the expert author’s blog Lex Sportiva.
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