Who are the governing body for esports games that are based on mainstream sports?
The issue seems to be at the forefront in Malaysia with an apparent conflict between the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) in the selection of the national team for the FIFAe World Cup.
While the matter may be brushed aside as a purely local issue, it does have its own implications in other countries including Cambodia.
The FIFAe World Cup and its predecessors including the FIFA Interactive World Cup have been a tournament always organised under the banner of FIFA.
Legally it seems that if the event is being held under the banner of FIFA, then all matters related to the event should be governed by the FAM in Malaysia.
FAM are after all the governing body for football in Malaysia and seem to have every right to select the national team.
But under the Malaysia Sports Development Act of 1997, the MESF are the governing body for esports in Malaysia.
So is the FAM wrong in conducting the selection trials?
The MESF have made it clear in their press statement that they are not supporting the selection trials to be conducted by the FAM.
They have confirmed that all gamers involved in the disputed selection trials would have their status elevated to professionals and would no longer be allowed to participate any local leagues sanctioned by the MESF and would be dropped from the national ranking system.
A passive aggressive statement that basically shows the MESF wants to assert their authority on esports in Malaysia.
Can a sport have more than one governing body?
This matter was settled in the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) in the 2010 case of standup paddle board.
With two organisations laying claim to the sport, the CAS decided that the International Surfing Association (ISA) shall be the International Federation (IF) governing and administrating the sport of SUP at Olympic level but dismissed ISA’s request to be recognized as the sole governing body of SUP at the world level.
The International Canoe Federation (ICF) were deemed to have the right to conduct their own competitions that is not related to the Olympics.
If this was a test case, there can be two different organisations for the same sport, both internationally and nationally.
Interestingly, while the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has given Saudi Arabia the rights to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2027, their stance since 2010 has been that the IOC does not plan to recognize any organisation as the world governing body for esports.
The ongoing ”dispute” between the FAM and MESF is unlikely to see any straightforward solution. Both parties need to take into consideration of each other’s role and co-exist.
Both parties may have strong reasons to claim sole governance, but the reality is neither have sole claim to it.
S.T. Arasu is a former two-time Malaysian Sportswriter of the Year
