MMA remains banned in France. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Even though it is experiencing rapid global growth, MMA still faces some barriers in certain countries. This week, the French government blocked the most recent attempt to legalize the sport and formally banned it throughout its territory.
See too
This week, the country's Ministry of Sports released a document in which it explains that MMA fails to meet several prerequisites that would enable its legalization. Some of them are bureaucratic in nature, due to the fact that the MMA does not have a federation recognized by the French government.
Other items concern the rules. Fights held in France must take place on mats or rings, with the use of cages (such as, for example, the UFC octagon) being prohibited. The document also specifies some techniques that are not allowed in fights in the country: “Kicks, punches or knee strikes against a fighter on the ground; any blows with the elbow, head butts, blows to the genitals, spine, back of the head or throat; fingers in eyes, mouth or nose; hair pulling, biting; intentionally throwing the opponent with the head or neck on the ground or outside the ring”, explains the statement.
Some of these strikes are also prohibited by the unified rules of MMA. The president of the French MMA Confederation, Bertrand Amossou, was outraged by the decision. “It’s amazing how disrespectful this is. The minister treats everyone like idiots. All European countries have already recognized MMA, with the exception of France and Norway. I hope we don’t have to get to that point, but the CFMMA will go to court against this decree,” he said, to the newspaper “L’Express”.
Comments