Legal consequences of insults in sport

Aim. This study examines the legal consequences of verbal insults in sports, drawing upon scientific and legal sources to establish the boundaries of permissible speech and the conditions under which punitive measures may be imposed. Materials and methods. The application of analytical methods enabled a comprehensive examination of the legal consequences of verbal insults in sports under both Russian and international legislation, while also establishing a framework for employing linguistic methodologies to assess the indecent nature of derogatory expressions. Results. A systematic analysis of normative legal acts, judicial precedents, and scholarly literature reveals that while insults are often considered normal within sports culture, there is a growing trend toward legal accountability. For an utterance to be classified as insulting, it must contain both a demeaning assessment of an individual and be conveyed in an indecent manner. Conclusion. Insults in sport may lead to disciplinary sanctions (suspensions, fines), administrative penalties, or criminal liability when coupled with other offenses. Establishing the derogatory nature and an inappropriate form of such expressions requires linguistic analysis.