Unclear Definition of Sports-Related Companies in Tunisia
The creation of Sports-Related Companies (SOS) in Tunisia is not clearly defined. Taking the French example, which was the first in the world and has proven to be one of the best, as a reference, the legislator has taken the precaution of protecting the club that wants to convert into a SOS or SAOS. Imagine a century-old or older club, due to poor governance, being forced to declare bankruptcy. Should it disappear or re-engage as an amateur club at the bottom of the hierarchy?
Protection Mechanism for Clubs
To avoid this alternative, the legislator has provided a protection mechanism that involves two actions. The first involves the creation of a company formed by individuals with a sports project (that's the base) and who want to invest in this field.
The second requires the club to approach this company and contribute its name, infrastructure, colors, public, and participation in the capital of the future Sports-Related Company. The engagement between the two parties is for a determined period of 10 to 15 years, renewable. The club is granted 51% of the capital of this company, allowing it to block any decision that could put its existence in danger first, and the agreement concluded second. The club must not become a hostage of this company. We note that the interests of the sports club, as such, are preserved.
Attracting Investors
The SOS created through the company that approaches the club manages, organizes, and reinvests the profits in the capital of the company. If the decision is made to distribute dividends, the SOS becomes a Sports-Related Company with Limited Liability (SAOS), but the first choice is often preferred with an agreement between the two parties to reinvest these profits in projects aimed at consolidating the company's own resources. What capital and assets do they possess outside of their notoriety, prestige, and name? To our knowledge, all clubs currently exploit municipal infrastructure. The shops they operate cannot form a significant enough capital. We believe that we must start by choosing the type of company to adopt or accept the two alternatives, designing a relevant, clear, operational, functional, and attractive regulation to attract investors. No investor, for example, will accept that matches take place in front of only the home team's public. We must also remember the right to animate the surroundings of stadiums to make them a means of resources and put an end to the gloomy and lugubrious atmosphere that our stadiums live in.
State Support
The State, in our opinion, should help by granting land for the realization of a basic infrastructure, as is the case in Egypt, where all clubs possess their "club" with sports halls, restaurants, leisure areas for subscribers' families, shops, projection rooms, maneges, etc., in addition to competition stadiums that are rented at studied prices, but maintained by the clubs. Municipalities contribute through operational subsidies to encourage those who defend the colors of their cities and through heavy interventions that involve significant expenses, such as the expansion of stands, renovation of dressing rooms and sanitary blocks, lighting, etc.
We are not yet there, and it will soon be five years or more since we have been debating this subject, which blocks the emancipation of our clubs, not to mention our sport.
