Sweden

No statutory act

SPORTS LEGISLATION IN SWEDEN

Sweden has no single, unified “Sports Act.” Instead, sport is regulated through a patchwork of sector-specific laws combined with internal governance by voluntary non-profit associations (clubs, federations, umbrella confederation Riksidrottsförbundet).

State Funding

Förordning (1999:1177) om statsbidrag till idrottsverksamhet — Ordinance on State Subsidies to Sports Activities. Regulates state grants: eligibility, accountability, reporting requirements. Reflects governance model where organised sport remains voluntary and non-profit, with state financial support.

Anti-Doping

Lag (1991:1969) om förbud mot vissa dopningsmedel — Law on Prohibition of Certain Doping Substances. Criminalises manufacture, import, sale, distribution of doping substances. Penalties range from fines to six years imprisonment for serious offences.

Event Safety & Data Protection

Lag (2015:51) om idrottsorganisationers behandling av uppgifter om tillträdesförbud — Law on Sports Organisations’ Processing of Access Ban Data. Enables sports organisations to handle personal data for enforcing entry bans at events while protecting privacy.

Other Applicable Laws

  • Employment law — applies to professional athletes; collective bargaining for labour contracts
  • Commercial/IP law — broadcasting rights, sponsorships, image rights, merchandising
  • Gambling Act — covers match-fixing and betting fraud (Spelinspektionen oversight)
Back to list