Practical guide
How to draft an appeal to the Sport Guarantee Board with AI
3 min read · Updated June 2026 · Editorial oversight: Avv. Federico Papa
An appeal to the Sport Guarantee Board (Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport) represents the final instance of sports justice, functioning as a court of legality similar to the Court of Cassation. Pursuant to Article 12-bis of the CONI Statute, this body ensures compliance with legal principles and the correct application of regulations by national federations. The appeal is permitted exclusively against decisions no longer subject to internal federation review, focusing strictly on violations of law or defects in reasoning. Drafting this pleading requires high technical precision to avoid rulings of inadmissibility stemming from arguments on the merits of the case.
In brief
The appeal to the Sport Guarantee Board, under Article 12-bis of the CONI Statute, is the final instance for legality review. Pursuant to Article 54 of the Code of Sports Justice, grounds are limited to violations of law or defects in reasoning. The mandatory 30-day notification period runs without holiday suspension. Filing must be completed within 5 days of service, including proof of the administrative fee payment. The procedure requires notification to the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport and precludes new evidence. AI facilitates the technical drafting of grounds.
The steps
- 1.
Verification of prerequisites and deadlines
Ensure that the decision was rendered in the final internal federal instance and that the appeal focuses strictly on legal grounds, excluding any re-examination of facts. The mandatory deadline for serving the appeal is 30 days from the publication of the challenged decision, pursuant to Article 58 of the CONI Code of Sports Justice. It is essential to verify the standing of the appellant and the passive standing of all necessary respondents, including the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport (Procura Generale dello Sport).
- 2.
Framing the legal grounds
Grounds of appeal must be limited to violations of law or omitted, insufficient, or contradictory reasoning on a decisive point of the dispute. Introducing new evidence or requesting a different evaluation of evidence already acquired in previous instances is impermissible. Each ground must be specifically linked to the scenarios provided for by Article 54 of the Code of Sports Justice, highlighting the logical or legal defect affecting the decision.
- 3.
Drafting the structure of the appeal
The appeal must analytically set forth the parties, the challenged decision, and a concise summary of the facts necessary to understand the grievances. The main section must set out the legal grounds, distinctly numbered, illustrating the statutory violation or defect in reasoning raised. It must conclude with prayers for relief seeking the total or partial annulment of the decision, specifying whether with or without remand to the competent federal body.
- 4.
Serving the appeal on the parties and the Prosecutor
The appeal must be served within 30 days of publication on all parties to the prior proceedings and on the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport, where the latter was not a party. Service is typically effected via Certified Electronic Mail (PEC) to the addresses of appointed counsel and the Prosecutor's Office. Failure to serve a necessary party results in the appeal's inadmissibility, which may be raised ex officio by the Board.
- 5.
Electronic filing and completion of proceedings
Within the mandatory deadline of 5 days from the last service, the appeal must be filed with the Secretariat of the Sport Guarantee Board. Proof of service and the receipt of payment for the prescribed administrative fee must be attached to the filing under penalty of procedural bar (improcedibilità). It is also necessary to attach a copy of the challenged decision and the relevant records of the prior internal federal proceedings.
Legal basis: Statuto CONI art. 12-bisCodice della Giustizia Sportiva CONIRegolamento del Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport
The template structure
The standard sections that make up the document. The full template can be opened and completed directly on edit.legal.
Sport Guarantee Board
Indication of the competent Section of the Sport Guarantee Board at CONI to which the appeal is addressed.
Parties
Identification data of the appellant, respondents, and the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport as a necessary party.
Challenged federal decision
Reference details of the final instance measure issued by the judicial body of the relevant Federation.
Admissibility of the appeal
Explanation of procedural requirements, compliance with service deadlines, and the strictly legal nature of the grounds.
Grounds of appeal
Technical analysis of violations of law and defects of omitted, insufficient, or contradictory reasoning.
Conclusions
Prayers for relief requesting total or partial annulment of the decision, with a possible motion for remand to the federal judicial body.
Place, date, signature
Signature of counsel provided with a special power of attorney and the date of drafting the appeal.
Mistakes to avoid
- Serving the appeal after the 30-day deadline by incorrectly calculating it from communication rather than publication of the decision.
- Failing to serve the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport if it was not a party to the internal federal proceedings.
- Pleading grounds addressing the factual merits of the case, seeking an impermissible reassessment of evidence.
- Filing the appeal with the Secretariat beyond the mandatory 5-day deadline from the last service.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 30-day notification deadline suspended during the summer holidays?
No, the summer suspension of procedural deadlines does not apply to sports justice proceedings; therefore, the 30-day term runs continuously. It is essential to monitor publication dates even during summer or winter breaks.
Can new documents be produced before the Guarantee Board?
No, Article 54 of the CONI Code of Sports Justice limits the review strictly to legality, prohibiting new documents on the factual merits. Only documents concerning the admissibility of the appeal itself, such as proofs of service, are admissible.
What happens if the administrative fee is not paid?
Failure to pay the administrative fee within the filing deadline renders the appeal procedurally barred. The payment receipt must be mandatorily included in the electronic file when filing the appeal within the 5-day window.
What edit.legal automates
- —Automatic calculation of service and filing deadlines running from the publication date of the decision.
- —Assistance in classifying appeal grounds to properly distinguish between violations of law and defects in reasoning.
- —Verification of proper heading formatting and inclusion of the General Prosecutor's Office for Sport among service recipients.
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