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British Darts Organisation

Press Release - June 30, 1997

B.D.O. Reaches Agreement
with 14 Professional Players and the renamed W.D.C.


The B.D.O. has been engaged in long-running High Court litigation with 14 players associated with the World Darts Council (the W.D.C.).

The trial of those proceedings started on 23 June 1997.

The B.D.O. has now reached a agreement with both the players and the W.D.C.

The purpose of the agreement reached between the B.D.O. and the W.D.C. is to promote the freedom of individual darts players to participate freely in open competition.

Under the terms of that agreement, the W.D.C. is now to be re-named the Professional Darts Council (the P.D.C.). the W.D.C. will no longer maintain that it "controls" or "governs" the professional game. Instead it will hold itself out as "representing the professional game throughout the world".

The B.D.O. recognises and accepts the role of the P.D.C. in representing the interests of professional darts players throughout the world.

The P.D.C. recognises and accepts the role of the B.D.O. as a national governing body for the sport of darts.

Both bodies recognise and accept that no organisation has the exclusive right to organise darts tournaments, and that the B.D.O. and the P.D.C. are entitled lawfully to compete with each other.

As a result of the agreement reached between the B.D.O., the 14 players and the P.D.C., all proceedings referred to above have been brought to an end on terms agreed between all parties.

Olly Croft, General Secretary of the B.D.O., said, "We are delighted that this matter has been resolved without having to go through long and protracted court proceedings. At the end of the day the B.D.O, is committed only to the long term future of the sport and the benefits it will continue to provide for its players, officials and supporters."


above: BDO official Press Release

below: letter from the BDO to their Member County Secretaries.


June 30, 1997

To: Member County Secretaries

Re: Settlement of Court case between BDO and WDC-affiliated players

Dear Colleagues

I am sure you are aware of the long-running case between the BDO and the 14 "named players" associated with the WDC. The hearing of the case started in the High Court on 23rd June 1997. On the third day of the case, 25th June, the Judge agreed to allow the parties time to see if they could reach an agreement, before continuing with the case. There followed several days of intensive negotiations. These were assisted by the barristers and solicitors on both sides, who put a great deal of time into putting the agreement into a legal format. The outcome was that an agreement was reached between the BDO, the named players, and the WDC.

That agreement is set out in detailed and binding legal documents. The purpose of this letter is to summarise what has been agreed.

From the BDO's point of view, a key provision in the agreement is that the WDC has agreed to change both its name and the claims it makes on its own behalf. The WDC is legally bound to change its name to the Professional Darts Council, effectively by 5th August 1997. It will no longer claim to be the governing body of professional darts. Instead it will be a body representing professional darts players throughout the world. It will be entitled to run its own tournaments. Equally, it accepts the BDO's right to run tournaments.

These changes in the PDC (as it is now to be called) have opened the way for the BDO and the WDF to lift the sanctions against that body and the players associated with it. The BDO has reached an agreement which has the effect of ending a legal dispute which would otherwise have led to a long trial, and which could financially have destroyed the BDO.

The PDC recognises the BDO as a nationwide organisation and a governing body for the sport of darts. The WDF will continue to describe itself as the governing body for the sport of darts worldwide.

At the same time, the named players have withdrawn their considerable claims for damages against the BDO.

The main points of the agreement include the following:

From now on BDO will allow its members to play in open tournaments promoted by third party promoters, whether or not PDC affiliated players are playing in those tournaments.
 
The BDO will also allow its members to play in exhibition matches again, whether or not PDC-affiliated players take part.
 
"Head to head" matches will be allowed. However, head to head matches between the current Embassy and Sky World Champions will require the prior agreement of sponsors and broadcasters on both sides.
 
The BDO allow its players to take part in WDC tournaments (through there are special rules about the Embassy and the Sky World Championships).
 
The PDC are required to allow their players to take part in BDO tournaments.
 
The PDC are not allowed to impose any new contractual restrictions on their players, ability to take part in BDO tournaments. It should be borne in mind that members only tournaments require them to register as members in the normal manner.
 
The eligibility rule will be amended to include both the World Professional Darts Players Association and the International Dart Players Association as recognised darts bodies.
 
The BDO accepts the eligibility of PDC - affiliated players to play in open tournaments (including County Opens).
 
Steps are being taken by the WDF to exempt the existing "World" titled events run by the PDC from the terms of bye-law 11. Any new "World" titled events will still require the sanction of the WDF if they are not to infringe bye-law 11.
 
A procedure has been put in place to try to amend WDF legislation to comply with the terms of the agreement.
 
A special agreement has been reached to deal with the Embassy and Sky World Championships. The purpose of this agreement is to ensure that neither the BDO nor the PDC can wreck the other organisation's event by poaching the best players.

Putting it shortly, the purpose of the agreement is to allow all players free access to open competitions.All counties are encouraged to act in the spirit of this agreement.

In order to give full effect to the agreement, resolutions will be introduced at the AGM on 10th August 1997 to rescind the November 1995 resolution and to amend the eligibility rule. In the meantime, the November 1995 resolution should no longer be applied, This agreement has been reached in the best interests of the sport of darts as a whole, and in the interests of your company. All members are requested to give it their support.

Please bear in mind that any breach of the agreement by either part could lead to further disputes. In the first place these would be submitted to arbitration, but ultimately they could lead to the matter coming back to Court, or even re-opening the case against the BDO. This scenario would be in nobody's interests and would be very damaging to the sport.

Yours in the Sport of Darts

Dave Alderman
Director,
British Darts Organisation

 



June 30, 1996 -->