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Chile – Another setback for football clubs as court denies appeal

By James - 2 October 2023

The National Association of Professional Football (ANFP) has been dealt with another setback after it filed an appeal against the recent decree of the Undersecretariat of Justice that forced it to end its contracts with sports betting operators.

The First Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Santiago decided not to accept the admissibility of the judicial action.

After hearing the sentence, the ANFP issued a statement where they warned that they would go to the highest court in the country to resolve the issue.

The document states that “in its appeal, the ANFP exclusively claims that the Office violated its constitutional right to be tried by the courts established by law, since the Undersecretary, instead of presenting its respective claim before a judge, administratively instructed that current contracts be terminated.”

“For this, neither the Ministry of Justice nor the Undersecretary have legal powers, nor do any administrative body or Superintendency in Chile,” they added.

Likewise, they stressed that “in this protection appeal, the legality or illegality of online betting contracts is therefore not discussed, a fundamental issue that in the opinion of this ANFP is not adequately reflected in the recent resolution of the Court. The ANFP has not been summoned nor has it been part of any trial or appeal in which this discussion has occurred.”

Last month Chile’s National Professional Football Association (ANFP) was given just 30 days by the Ministry of Justice to end any contracts it may have with sports betting operators. The Ministry of Justice has also announced that the same regulations could well apply to the ANFP’s associates including clubs and any of its partners.