Section 1: Operating rights

Articles in this section · 6

Article R333-3-1

French Sports CodeIn force

Updated 7 Nov 2023

I.-When sports associations and sports companies take part in sports events or competitions for which the marketing and management of the exploitation rights are assigned to the commercial company mentioned in articles L. 333-1 and L. 333-2-1, the following may not hold an interest in the capital of this company or voting rights within it:

1° Sports associations and the sports companies they have formed in application of article L. 122-1;

2° Natural and legal persons who, within the meaning ofarticle L. 233-3 of the Commercial Code , exclusively or jointly control a sports company formed in application of article L. 122-1 or likely to exercise a significant influence over it, within the meaning ofArticle L. 233-17-2 of the French Commercial Code ;

3° The managers and employees of sports associations and sports companies in the discipline concerned that are constituted in application of Article L. 122-1;

4° Professional sportsmen and sportswomen, professional trainers and sports directors in the sports discipline concerned;

5° Persons exercising or holding a mandate to exercise the activity of sports agent as defined in article L. 222-7, companies set up by sports agents to exercise this profession, employees of a company set up to exercise the profession of sports agent as referred to in article L. 222-8;

6° Professional organisations of sportsmen and women, referees, trainers, sports associations and companies as well as their managers and employees.

II. - Nor may they hold an interest in the capital of the commercial company referred to in Articles L. 333-1 and L. 333-2-1 or voting rights within this company:

1° Sports betting operators holding the authorisation provided for inArticle 21 of Law no. 2010-476 of 12 May 2010 relating to the opening up to competition and the regulation of the online gambling sector or exclusive rights to organise and operate sports betting games provided for inArticle 137 of Law no. 2019-486 of 22 May 2019 relating to the growth and transformation of businesses ;

2° The natural and legal persons who are the beneficiaries of the operating rights marketed and managed by the trading company, as well as the natural or legal persons who exclusively or jointly control them within the meaning of Article L. 233-3 of the French Commercial Code or which are likely to exercise significant influence over them within the meaning of article L. 233-17-2 of the same code;

3° Natural and legal persons established in a State or territory considered as non-cooperative pursuant to article 238-0 A of the French General Tax Code;

4° Legal entities that are exclusively or jointly controlled, within the meaning of article L. 233-3 of the French Commercial Code, by an individual or legal entity established in a State or territory considered to be non-cooperative pursuant toarticle 238-0 A of the French General Tax Code, or that exercise significant influence over such legal entities, within the meaning of article L. 233-17-2 of the French Commercial Code.

Mariela Petrova

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Working with a corporate lawyer in France — Q&A

Any time a strategic decision changes how the company is owned, governed or contractually bound — incorporation, fundraising, M&A, restructuring, shareholder agreements, or major commercial contracts. Earlier engagement always costs less than later remediation.

A notary (notaire) is a public officer who authenticates specific deeds (mainly real-estate transfers and certain family-law acts). A corporate lawyer (avocat) advises on strategy, negotiates and drafts company documents, and represents you in disputes. The two roles complement rather than overlap.

Yes — most of our clients are foreign suppliers, investors or holding entities. We bridge the gap between French law and your home jurisdiction's expectations and deliver everything bilingually.

The SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée) is the default choice for most international structures: flexible governance, single shareholder allowed, no minimum capital, and works cleanly with foreign holding entities. We assess SARL, SA, SCI on the merits when the situation calls for it.

Yes — communications with a French avocat are protected by the secret professionnel (Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971). This protection is broader than the common-law attorney-client privilege and applies to written and oral exchanges.

We work on fixed fees for clearly scoped engagements (incorporation, contract drafting, audits) and on monthly retainers for ongoing advisory. Hourly billing is the exception, not the default. You always know the cost before work starts.

Typical timeline is 2–3 weeks from KYC kick-off to RCS registration, assuming standard documentation. Holding-company structures, foreign-shareholder identification or in-kind contributions can extend this — we flag the gating items at the first meeting.

Absolutely. We routinely coordinate with your in-house counsel, expert-comptable or notaire — pragmatic collaboration is the norm, not the exception. We send them everything they need to do their part without duplicating work.

Mariela Petrova

Mariela Petrova

Avocate au Barreau de Paris

Toque #C2396

15+ Years In Corporate Practice

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Communications protected by professional secrecy — secret professionnel de l'avocat, Article 66-5 of the Law of 31 December 1971.

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