Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

2011 CHAPTER 24

Commentary on Sections

Schedules

Schedule 3: Regulated matches

This Schedule sets out the “regulated matches” for the sports law provisions under Part 4 of the Act. The provisions in each of the Chapters 1 to 4 of Part 4 apply to a different set of “regulated matches”. Each of the Schedule’s paragraphs 2 to 9 describes a different set of matches and section 35 specifies which of those paragraphs applies to which Chapter in Part 4.

Paragraph 1:

This paragraph of the Schedule defines terms: “the IFA” as the Irish Football Association; “the FAI” as the Football Association of Ireland; “FIFA” as the Fédération Internationale de Football Association; “the IRFU” as the Irish Rugby Football Union; “gaelic game” as gaelic football (including international rules football), hurling or camogie; “member” to include a full or associate member; and “UEFA” as Union des Associations Européennes de Football.

Paragraphs 2 - 5: Association football.

These are association football matches where -

Paragraph 2: one or both participating teams represent a country or territory.

Paragraph 3: one or both participating teams represents a club which is for the time being a member of:

• the IFA Premiership,

• the IFA Championship,

• the FAI Premier League, or

• the FAI First Division.

Paragraph 4: one or both participating teams represents a club which is for the time being a member of:

• the Football League,

• the Football Association Premier League,

• the Football Conference,

• the Welsh Premier League,

• the Scottish Premier League, or

• the Scottish Football League.

Paragraph 5: a match being played in Northern Ireland -

• in which one or both participating teams is a member of, or affiliated to, a national football association which is a member of FIFA,

• which is part of a competition or tournament organized by, or under the authority of FIFA or UEFA

Paragraphs 6 & 7: Gaelic games.

These include a match played at a sports ground in Northern Ireland which is designated as requiring a safety certificate under Part 2 of the Safety of Sports ground (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (paragraph 6); and a match played outside Northern Ireland in which one or both participating teams represents a county or which is an international rules football match (paragraph 7).

Paragraphs 8 & 9: Rugby union.

These comprise a rugby union match which subject to regulation by the IRFU, and is played at a sports ground in Northern Ireland which is designated as requiring a safety certificate under Part 2 of the Safety of Sports ground (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (paragraph 8); and a match which is subject to regulation by the IRFU, is played outside Northern Ireland and in which one or both participating teams represents Ireland or Ulster Rugby (paragraph 9).