Long-term legal conflict
The dispute revolves around the procurement of carom billiards equipment, such as billiard balls and tables. The KBBB traditionally chooses regular suppliers such as NV Saluc and BV Verhoeven Biljartfabriek. However, competitor GDM Sports disputes these choices and states that they exclude competition. The Leuven corporate court previously ruled in favor of GDM Sports.
In 2022, the association organized a new tender, but the court labeled it a “sham”. It turned out that the KBBB had already concluded a contract with NV Saluc before the official procedure. The Brussels Court of Appeal confirmed this judgment, meaning that the previously imposed penalty of €1,000 per day, with a maximum of €100,000, remains in force.
Sharp criticism of the billiards association
According to the court, the KBBB “artificially restricted competition” and drafted the procurement rules in such a way that preferred suppliers were favored. The court therefore stated that the KBBB ‘clearly’ designed the tender ‘with the aim of unfairly favoring preferred players such as Saluc and Biljartfabriek Verhoeven’. This approach has led to strong criticism of the lack of transparency and honesty within the association.
The future of competition law in the sports sector
Although the KBBB indicates that it has taken note of the judgment and has organized a new tender, GDM Sports continues to contest this as well. This case highlights the importance of fair competition in the sports sector. Not only organizing a tender is important; due care and compliance with competition rules are also crucial.
Would you like to read more about this case? Below are additional articles that further explain this case:
- Court of Appeal: billiards association guilty of ‘bad faith’
- Royal Belgian Billiards Federation made a mistake with exclusivity contracts
- Conflict in billiards sector leads to groundbreaking verdict
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