Crimes of the Green Rectangle in the Light of Comparative Legal Studies

Abstract

This study is a thorough academic investigation into the phenomenon of "crimes of the green rectangle," which refers to a collection of illegal activities carried out in the context of sports. These include, among other things, match-fixing, bribery, physical and verbal abuse, and doping. The study starts by outlining the nature and extent of these crimes and following their evolution over time from small-scale individual offenses to intricate phenomena that have a direct impact on the legitimacy and integrity of sporting events.

By categorizing sports-related crimes and analyzing their legal characterization in light of general criminal law principles, the study aims to analyze the legal nature of these crimes. It also specifies the boundaries of criminal liability for all parties involved in sports, such as athletes, referees, administrators, and spectators. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the national laws of a few chosen nations, most notably Saudi Arabia and Algeria, are all highlighted in the study's discussion of the international and national legal frameworks intended to prevent such crimes.

The study evaluates these legal frameworks' efficacy in achieving deterrence using a comparative analytical approach, emphasizing the investigative and punitive mechanisms as well as the real-world difficulties in implementing them. These difficulties include the overlap between disciplinary sanctions and criminal penalties, as well as the difficulty of proving specific crimes like bribery and doping offenses. Lastly, the study provides reform-focused insights by pointing out legal loopholes and suggesting substitute legislative and regulatory actions meant to improve sports integrity and protect its moral principles. The study's descriptive-analytical methodology, which is bolstered by comparative research and legal document analysis, allows for the development of conclusions and suggestions that help deal with this expanding issue.