French Sports Code

Except where it results from affiliation to a sports federation approved by the State, the approval provided for in article L. 121-4 is issued by the prefect of the département in which the sports association has its registered office. The prefectoral decree granting approval is published in the prefecture’s recueil des actes administratifs.

To obtain approval, a sports association whose purpose is the practice of one or more physical or sporting activities must be affiliated to an approved sports federation. An association that contributes to the development or promotion of sport and sporting activities, without the practice of sport itself being one of its objects, may obtain approval without having to be affiliated.

The associations mentioned in article R. 121-2 may only obtain approval if their articles of association include the following provisions: 1° Provisions relating to the democratic operation of the association. The articles of association provide for : a) The participation of each member in the general meeting ; b) The appointment of the Board of Directors by the General Meeting by secret ballot and for a limited period; c) A…

The application for approval must be accompanied by the following documents: 1° A copy of the articles of association and by-laws, together with a copy of the receipt for the declaration provided for inarticle 5 of the law of 1 July 1901 on the contract of association; 2° The minutes of the last three general meetings; 3° Balance sheets and operating accounts for the last three financial years; 4° A…

When it informs the Prefect of the département in which the sports association has its registered office of the association’s membership, the approved sports federation attaches the certificate of subscription to the republican commitment contract mentioned in 4° of article R. 121-4.

Approval granted to a sports association or resulting from its affiliation to a sports federation approved by the State pursuant to article L. 131-8 may be withdrawn by the Prefect of the département in which its registered office is located in the event of : 1° Non-compliance of the articles of association with the conditions set out in article R. 121-3 ; 2° Serious breach by the association of its…

If the activities of the sports association or the manner in which it pursues them fail to comply with the commitments set out in the Republican Commitment Contract it has signed, the Prefect of the département in which the association’s registered office is located will suspend or withdraw approval, depending on the seriousness of the breach. Suspension will be for a period of six months. It may be terminated early…

Reasons are given for the prefectoral order suspending or withdrawing approval. It is published in the recueil des actes administratifs of the prefecture of the department in which the registered office is located and, where different, in the recueil des actes administratifs of the prefecture of the department in which the approval order was published. The order suspending or withdrawing approval is communicated to the mayor of the municipality in…