Section 6: Organisation of public combat sports events

A public combat sports event governed by this section is any fight or demonstration open or broadcast to the public in disciplines where the fight or demonstration may end, in particular or exclusively, when, as a result of a blow, one of the opponents is in a state in which he is unable to defend himself and may even be unconscious.

Public combat sports events: 1° Organised by a delegated sports federation, its regional or departmental bodies or by one of its members; 2° Involving a discipline for which this federation has been delegated in accordance with article L. 131-14; 3° And registered in the calendar of this federation, are not subject to the obligation to be declared in advance to the prefect of the département in which the event is…

Athletes, judges, referees, trainers, organisers and, in general, any person involved in the organisation of these events must comply with the rules laid down by the federations in application of article R. 131-32 and, where they exist, with the provisions laid down by order of the Minister for Sport aimed at limiting the risks to which the practice of combat sports exposes participants.

The Prefect may prohibit the holding of a public combat sports event in the cases and under the conditions set out in article L. 331-2.

The declaration shall be accompanied by the opinion of the delegating federation competent to lay down the technical and safety rules for the discipline for which it has been delegated. The request for an opinion must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt or delivered by hand against receipt, to the relevant delegating federation, prior to the declaration to the Prefect. The federation must give its opinion within…

In disciplines for which no federation has been delegated, the declaration is accompanied by a declaration on the organiser’s honour to comply with the technical and safety rules laid down by order of the Minister for Sport.

The declaration of the event must be sent to the Prefect: 1° At least fifteen days before the event is due to take place if it is organised by an approved federation, its regional or departmental bodies or one of its members; 2° At least one month before the event is due to take place if it is not organised by a person mentioned in 1°.

The composition of the declaration file and the procedures for submitting it are set by order of the Minister for Sport and the Minister for the Interior.

Without prejudice to the provisions of articles L. 331-3 and L. 331-6, the following are punishable by the penalties laid down for fifth-class offences: 1° Organising a public combat sports event without having declared it in advance in accordance with the rules and within the required deadlines; 2° Providing false information in the prior declaration.