LEGAL

In the increasingly complex structure of the organisation and the commercial companies involved, the Legal Department carries out the duties required of a legal department in a medium or large scale company. To this extent, it ensures the support to the various departments in providing necessary assistance in conducting negotiations and drafting contracts, protocols and other types of agreement, examining legal issues arising in the course of Liga Portugal's activity and issuing opinions, and performing various acts of a legal notarial and registry nature, as well as sponsoring administrative, tax, arbitration and administrative, civil and criminal proceedings.

With these functions that are shared with the legal departments of other legal persons, the Legal Department of Liga Portugal combines the exercise and support for the exercise of functions that are proper to the nature of the institution and the allocation of public powers conferred upon it by law.

To begin with, the nature of the organisation as an association of employers, which has been established since the constitution of Liga Portugal, implies the assumption by the Legal Department of the responsibilities of negotiation, drafting, application and interpretation of the IRCTs entered into by Liga Portugal, namely with the ANTF and the SJPF, in the operation of the mechanisms established by them (such as the mechanism for termination of contracts with professionals working for the sports societies) and the follow-up of the collective agreements denounced by the association with the trade unions belonging to the CGTP and the Directorate General for Employment and Labour Relations.

With regard to the exercise of public powers, this area has a key role in monitoring the organisation of competitions, ensuring a prompt response to the various requests from the other departments and sports societies regarding the application of the law and regulations, in areas such as disciplinary, insurance, facilities and licensing procedures for participation in professional competitions, so that these take place within the limits of the legal and regulatory framework that binds, Liga Portugal, as the organiser, and its member sports societies, as promoters of each of the games of the three main competitions: Liga Portugal bwin, Liga Portugal SABSEG and the Allianz CUP.

It is also in the Legal Department of Liga Portugal that the regulatory framework is focused, with the drafting of revision proposals based on the experience of the department and the other functional areas of Liga Portugal and the contributions of thematic working groups convened annually by the Board, including, naturally, the Legal Department, whose work is coordinated by this department.

The main activities of this area for the 2022-23 season will be as follows:

• Legal consultation and support, throughout the season, to the statutory bodies, the remaining departments and associates;

• Negotiation of collective labour contracts with entities such as the Union of Professional Football Players and the National Association of Football Coaches, among others;

• To respond to all types of notifications and requests from the courts, enforcement agents, the Judicial Police, the Public Security Police, the National Republican Guard, the Tax Authority, Social Security and other public authorities and entities;

• Handling of legal proceedings, throughout the sports season;

• Internal support of legal proceedings in which Liga Portugal takes part;

• Monitoring and upgrade of the protocols signed by Liga Portugal and the various partner entities;

• Assistance to the General Assemblies of Liga Portugal;

• Regulatory Amendments, Statutes, General Regulations and Official Communication No. 1 (CO1);

• Monitoring and involvement in the processes of legislative amendment;

• Management of the cooperative partnership between organisations, such as the Foreigners and Borders Service, the Portuguese Football Federation and the Players Union, Social Security and the Tax Authority.

The drafting of proposed amendments to the Competition, Disciplinary and Refereeing Regulations for competitions organised by the Liga Portugal will be carried out in collaboration with the other departments, the Sports Societies that are members of the Regulatory Working Group and other entities invited to participate in this process with their contributions.

Still in this process, it is important to point out the work that will be developed in the Working Groups created with the purpose of reflecting in the regulatory alterations the real needs of the activity and of the Sports Societies. This department will be responsible for coordinating the work and meetings of the Legal Working Group in order to ensure the presentation, at the Annual Meetings, of useful conclusions for the promotion and growth of Professional Football in Portugal.

It should be noted, in this regard, that the proposals that the department prepares with the working group on regulations will be submitted to the Executive Board, which will take them to the consideration of the Board of the Liga Portugal, for subsequent submission to the vote of the associated Sports Societies, at the General Assembly.

The constitution of three singleperson companies wholly owned by Liga Portugal determines the extension of the functions of the Legal Department to the support services to the activity of Liga Centralização, Sociedade Unipessoal, Lda., Liga Comercial LPPO, Sociedade Unipessoal, Lda. and Liga Infraestruturas LIALP, Sociedade Unipessoal, Lda. including their incorporation and the practice of all registry and notarial acts necessary for their full operation, in addition to providing legal advice to the work developed by these companies.

Systematic analysis of legislation in force and in preparation, on which it issues opinions and proposals for alterations (contributions) or amendments, with a view to ensuring the constant adaptation of legislation to professional competitions.

Monitoring, from a comparative law perspective, the regulatory evolution of other Leagues, namely in the context of the European Leagues, in order to ensure that Liga Portugal adapts its respective regulations and processes to the best practices of its counterparts.

The monitoring of partner entities of Liga Portugal, such as the Union of Professional Football Players, the National Association of Football Coaches, the Portuguese Football Federation and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, with which Liga Portugal maintains close ties and common themes throughout the sports season.

To this end, it designs and states the position of Liga Portugal, analysing documents and projects and providing proposals for contributions from Liga Portugal to the work of these entities.

O The Legal Department will be responsible for managing and providing administrative support to the members of the Joint Arbitration Committee (CAP), namely handling incoming and outgoing mail, preparing cases and notifying dispatches and decisions. This department will also be in charge of the organisation of the entire CAP archie.

The Department manages projects for the protection of the intellectual property of Liga Portugal and the Sports Societies participating in its competitions, and for integrity in Professional Football.

With regard to the former, the relationship with the National Institute of Industrial Property and other entities will continue in order to ensure protection of the brands and trademarks of Liga Portugal and the activities and entities within its scope. As it will continue the occasional legal support and the internal or external request, the participation in meetings and out related to the phenomenon and the deepening of the procedures of articulation, including as regards participations, with the Public Prosecutor, the ASAE and the Criminal Police and other public and private, national and international organisations of the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.

On the other hand, the Unit of Integrity in Football will maintain its operation in close collaboration with the sports societies, the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, the Portuguese Football Federation, the Union of Professional Football Players, the Portuguese Association of Football Referees, UEFA, FIFA and LaLiga, as well as with the Judiciary Police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, Santa Casa da Misericórdia, the bookmakers, Interpol and worldwide agencies.

The football integrity programme includes a set of actions aimed at combating possible acts of corruption for match fixing, with special emphasis on preventive actions with the professional football squads, with priority for those of the sports societies promoted to Liga Portugal SABSEG.