Abstract

This article discussions the difference between permissible aggression and a possible crime in the field of sports, with a focus on the Indian context: a country in which the concept of sports law is slowly gaining recognition. It juxtaposes the absence of a cohesive legal framework to deal with the complexities of sports aggression and crime in India with that of the countries where the judiciary has honestly embraced the concept of sports law jurisprudence. The focus of this article stems out from an intense examination of aspects such as the role of mutual consent in sports, the application of behavioral models such as the Social Learning Theory and the General Aggression Model, and the rationale behind the desirability of the Sportsmanship model to keep wastage in aggression in check. Finally, a comparative overview of the various ways such aggression is dealt with by examining the sports law framework as well as by highlighting the non-insignificant role of the international sports organizations for the same. The conclusion emphasises on the urgent need for a multi-pronged approach – involving sports organisations, legal reforms and a cultural change to bring in sportsmanship and respect – to tone down the aggression seen in sports in these times: the need to strike a balance between a competitive spirit and the criminal acts that may result out of it, but which also ensure the sanctity of sports while keeping the participants safe.

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