Some Issues Related to Bankruptcy of Football Clubs in the Republic of Croatia

Stečaj nogometnih klubova, kao i ostalih sportskih klubova u Republici Hrvatskoj, postao je goruća tema zbog velikog broja slučajeva kada su klubovi, djelujući u pravnom obliku udruge ili kao sportska dionička društva, postali prezaduženi ili nesposobni za plaćanje. Ta tema posebno pobuđuje interes jer, iako je riječ o prepoznatljivim pravnim oblicima uređenima odgovarajućim zakonima, ipak ih u određenoj mjeri valja posebno izdvojiti s obzirom na to da se na njih u prvom redu primjenjuje Zakon o sportu, a tek podredno propisi koji inače uređuju materiju stečaja te propisi koji uređuju takva društva. U toj problematici važnu ulogu imaju i autonomna pravila, međunarodna i domaća, koja na više mjesta uređuju pitanje pravnog položaja kluba koji je u krizi. Njihov donositelj kod nas je Hrvatski nogometni savez, ekskluzivni, jedini nacionalni sportski savez koji potiče, promiče i skrbi o hrvatskom nogometnom sportu te ga predstavlja u međunarodnim odnosima. U tom smislu, uz statut HNS-a, važnu ulogu imaju HNS-ov pravilnik o licenciranju klubova, pravilnik o nogometnim natjecanjima, pravilnik o statusu igrača i registracijama, disciplinski pravilnik HNS-a te brojni drugi akti. Na međunarodnoj razini tvorac autonomnih pravila jest Međunarodni nogometni savez (FIFA) odnosno Europska nogometna unija (UEFA). S obzirom na to, treba ispitati što se događa s nogometnim klubovima kada postanu nesposobni za plaćanje ili prezaduženi. Nema dvojbe o tome da se većina odgovora nalazi u odredbama našeg Stečajnog zakona, ali potrebno je istražiti kakav je „suživot“ državnog i autonomnog prava po ovom pitanju. Pitanje stečaja nije ograničeno samo na sportske (nogometne) klubove već i na sportske saveze kao nositelje natjecanja a koji u pravilu imaju pravni status udruge te kao takvi također mogu postati subjekti stečaja. Ovo posljednje pitanje daleko je od bezazlenog jer na teritoriju jedne države može postojati samo jedna krovna sportska organizacija. Ako je nad tom tvorevinom otvoren stečaj, kako će se održavati sportska natjecanja? Spomenuta, ali i mnoga druga pitanja izazivaju dvojbe u praksi na koje nije uvijek moguće dati jednoznačan odgovor. U radu se prvenstveno provodi analiza autonomnih izvora prava, posebice onih odredaba koje predviđaju posebne, dodatne pravne učinke za slučaj kada se nad nogometnim klubom otvori stečajni postupak te se upućuje na pojedine odredbe HNS-ovog Pravilnika o licenciranju čija bi dosljedna primjena mogla imati ozbiljne posljedice za klubove u financijskoj krizi.Bankruptcy of football clubs, like all sports clubs in the Republic of Croatia, has become a burning issue due to the enormous number of cases when clubs, acting under the legal form of an association or as a sports joint stock company, have become over indebted or unable to pay. This topic in particular arouses interest because, although it concerns recognisable legal forms governed by appropriate laws, they should be to a certain extent separated. This is because the Sports Act is first applicable to them and then secondly regulations which regulate material bankruptcy and regulations which regulate such associations. In this problem area, an important role is held by autonomous rules, international and national, which in several places regulate the issue of the legal position of a club in crisis. In our country, their contributor is the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), exclusively, the only national sports federation which promotes and cares for Croatian football and represents it in international relations. In this sense, together with HNS’s statute, an important role is held by HNS’s rulebook on licensing clubs, the rulebook on football competitions, rulebook on the status of football players and registration, HNS’s disciplinary rulebook and numerous other acts. At an international level, the creator of autonomous rules is the International Football Federation (FIFA) that is European Football Union (UEFA). Given this, what is going on with football clubs when they become unable to pay or over indebted should be examined. Undoubtedly, most answers can be found in the provisions of the Bankruptcy Act, but it is necessary to investigate what the coexistence of national and autonomous laws in this issue is like. The issue of bankruptcy is not only limited to sports (football) clubs, but also to sports federations as the bearers of competitions which have the legal status of an association and as such can also become the subjects of bankruptcy. This last issue is far from harmless because in the territory of country there can only be one main sports organisation. If bankruptcy is commenced over this creation, how can sports competitions be held? Mentioned also are many other issues raising doubts in practice to which it is not always possible to provide a singular answer. In this paper, analysis of autonomous sources of law is principally carried out, in particular of these provisions which prescribe particular additional legal effects in cases where bankruptcy proceedings are commenced over football clubs. This points to certain provisions of HNS’ rulebook on licensing, faithful application of which could have serious consequences for clubs in financial crisis