FIVB Constitution 2025
The current edition of the Constitution of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, adopted by the Porto Congress on 15 November 2024 and in force from 16 February 2025; it wrote a twenty per cent quota for each gender in the executive organs into the Constitution and recognised the holding of Congress remotely.
| Adoption | 15 November 2024 — Congress of the Federation in Porto, Portugal |
| In force from | 16 February 2025 |
| Structure | Constitution, 2025 edition |
| Status | Current edition — the Constitution governing the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball |
What is the FIVB Constitution?
The Constitution of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) is that federation's foundational instrument: it determines the scope of its jurisdiction over the confederations, zonal associations and national federations, organises the organs of the federation — the Congress, the Board of Administration, the Executive Committee and the President — together with the powers of each, and lays down the conditions for the nomination and election of officials. The other volleyball regulations, from the general and sports regulations to the disciplinary and financial ones, are enacted on the basis of the powers this instrument defines.
About the February 2025 editionChanges from February 2021
Key changes from the previous edition
- Twenty per cent quota for each genderThe most significant structural change in this edition. The composition of the Board of Administration and the Executive Committee must be such that at least twenty per cent of each gender is present in it.
- Gender quota in the continental seatsEach continent's allocation was coupled with a new condition: Africa three seats, Asia six, Europe eight, NORCECA four and South America three — and in each continent at least one seat is allocated to the gender in the minority.
- Holding Congress remotelyThe Congress may be held by telephone, video or any other means of communication, and in that case voting by correspondence and online is permitted. For a Congress not held in person the notice period is four months, as against eight months for an in-person Congress.
- Timing of the CongressThe Congress is held at least every two years and in even-numbered years, and a change to its year is possible only for just cause — an unforeseen event creating a significant risk — and by decision of the Board of Administration.
- Representation of national federationsEach national federation may send a maximum of two representatives, who must be members of the national federation's board or hold an official position in it.
- Election of the PresidentA nomination for the presidency must reach the secretariat no later than four months before the opening of the Congress, and where there is only one candidate, election by acclamation is possible.
- Time at which the age limit takes effectIt was clarified that the age limit takes effect from the thirty-first of December of the year in which the person reaches that age, or at the latest by the end of their term of office at the following Congress.
- Undertaking of players and clubsNational federations were placed under an obligation to guarantee that their players and clubs comply with the regulations of the international federation, and, in the event of conflict, the Constitution and regulations of the international federation prevail.
- The federation's tribunal and the route for disputesIt was provided that all confederations shall be represented on the FIVB Tribunal, and the route for hearing disputes arising from the Constitution, the regulations and the decisions of the judicial organs was determined.
Who this document matters to
For the Volleyball Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran as a member national federation, its rights and obligations — from representation at the Congress and the right to vote to the obligation to align its domestic regulations with the international regulations — are defined in this very instrument. For sports lawyers, the Constitution is the starting point of any case concerning the jurisdiction of the organs of the international federation; before relying on the disciplinary or ethics regulations, one must see from which article of the Constitution the adjudicating organ derives its power. Each event is governed by the edition that was in force at the time it occurred.