MPs are seeking to strengthen the autonomy of national sports federations and align domestic regulations with international Olympic standards.
They are set to vote on Tuesday on Decree-Law 40 of 2025, which amends key provisions of the 2021 Sports Professionalism Law.
It consists of three articles that redefine official terms within the law, restructure regulatory authority, and grant sports federations greater technical independence in drafting and enforcing professional contracts and transfer regulations.
Services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said the panel approved the decree-law by majority vote, describing it as “an essential step to modernise Bahrain’s sports governance framework.”
“This decree-law addresses long-standing gaps in the sports professionalism system,” Mr Al Saleh said. “It finally places technical decision-making where it belongs – in the hands of the national sports federations – while keeping the overall regulatory structure unified under the General Sports Authority.”
The decree replaces references to the “minister” and “ministry” in the original law with “president” and “authority,” reflecting the institutional changes that followed the creation of the General Sports Authority under Royal Decree 61 of 2021.
Article 4 is also replaced to:
* Authorise each national sports federation to independently prepare and issue its own detailed regulations on professional contracts, transfer rules and eligibility requirements
* Ensure all rules comply with both domestic legislation and the statutes of international sports bodies
Mr Al Saleh stressed that these changes eliminate bureaucratic obstacles that previously slowed the approval of professional sports regulations.
“The old system required multiple layers of prior approval, creating delays and uncertainty for clubs and athletes,” he said. “The new framework is faster, clearer and fully in line with international practice.”
The Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission highlighted the urgency of issuing the amendments via decree-law, warning that Bahrain’s previous framework posed risks of international sanctions or suspension from global competitions.
It could also lead to contractual disputes due to gaps in detailed regulations, it said.
The Commission also noted that the existing law created a “legislative vacuum” following the shift in responsibility to the General Sports Authority, undermining its ability to regulate the sector effectively.
The General Sports Authority supported the decree-law, stating that the amendments will strengthen the performance of clubs, national teams, and the domestic league.
Parliament is also set to review a draft reply to His Majesty King Hamad’s address at the opening of the National Assembly’s term in October.
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