ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 adopts a sociolegal approach and considers the presence of the authorities in policing player violence, including at the level of the justice system. Despite the commonly held view that the courts are the wrong place to assess player violence, there is increasing evidence that the courts in a number of countries are more willing to hear player violence and player injury cases. Simply put, the litigation and prosecution of sport assault, or what has provocatively been tagged ‘sports crime,’ appear to be on the rise. The role of consent in assessing player violence cases is considered, as is the widening circle of culpability that involves coaches and others in player violence litigation. Chapter 3 also shows that it would be a mistake to assume that legal intervention into sports violence and sports injury cases has been uncomplicated, homogeneous or linear. This is not true. In general, sports violence and sports injury are still defined ambiguously at best, and there remains little agreement among sports leagues and authorities as to the limits of aggressive, injurious or otherwise risky sports conduct.
