December 20, 2005 notice on the retransmission of certain types of fights
Article 1 of the law of September 30, 1986, as amended, states that freedom of communication may be limited to the extent required, in particular, to respect human dignity and safeguard public order. Furthermore, under the provisions of article 15 of the same law, the French Superior Audiovisual Council ensures that no program likely to seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of persons under 18 is made available to the public by television services.
In the light of these two articles, the French Superior Audiovisual Council is likely to regulate the diffusion on television of certain types of highly violent fights.
In a notice no. R 99-11 of April 22, 1999, the Council of Europe recommends that governments of member states"take all necessary measures to prohibit and prevent free fights [...]". It considers that such fights"constitute a danger for spectators, compromise the health of the fighters and have links with illegal activities [...]".
In France, fights classified by event organizers as"Free Fight", "MMA" or "Combat Libre" are not recognized by any national federation. The organization of this type of fight on French soil has been banned by prefectoral decree.
These practices do not meet the following requirements:
- competition rules respecting the physical and moral integrity of athletes;
- the transmission of educational values;
- appropriate medical supervision;
- anti-doping controls;
- trained staff: arbitrators, judges, officials, etc;
- fighters of equal technical value and comparable weight.
Consequently, the French Superior Audiovisual Council considers that this type of fight should not be broadcast on television:
- undermines the dignity of the participants ;
- is likely to seriously impair the physical, mental or moral development of persons under 18;
- is contrary to the protection of public order.
As such, it gives notice to television service editors not to show fights that are not governed by a national federation approved by the Ministry of Sports, or, in the case of events taking place abroad, that do not meet the criteria defined above.