SPORTS LAW: THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF SPORT AND THE REGULATION OF THE ATHLETE'S WORK

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze the regulation of the work of professional athletes in Brazil, highlighting the advances, challenges and gaps in the sports legal system. It starts from the understanding of the process of professionalization of sports in the country, contextualizing the historical evolution of this activity as a profession. Next, the applicable legislation is discussed, with emphasis on Law No. 9,615/1998 (Pelé Law) and the recent Law No. 14,597/2023 (General Sports Law), as well as the rights, duties, and peculiarities of the special sports employment contract. The research, of a qualitative and bibliographic nature, shows that, although there are advances in the legal protection of athletes, challenges persist related to the effective application of the rules, precariousness in less visible modalities and the absence of agile mechanisms for conflict resolution. Finally, proposals are presented aimed at strengthening labor rights in the sports sphere, with a focus on valuing the dignity of the athlete as a worker.