Brussels, 12/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Following the European Commission's adoption of its White Paper on Sport, Belgian MEP Ivo Belet (EPP-ED), rapporteur on the future of professional football, has mixed views on the document (see yesterday's newsletter and issue 9398). He says that although it has positive elements, it 'lacks ambition and courage… (and) does not give a satisfactory answer to the questions raised by the European Parliament and the sports sector.' 'The European Commission recognises that sports is a specific sector… but doesn't draw the much-needed conclusion that the rules with regard to the internal market and competition cannot be applied to sports in the same way as to other sectors.' Positive elements of the White Paper according to Belet include the fact the Commission 'supports the so-called 'home-grown rule' (i.e. UEFA and national football leagues can require teams to have a minimum number of locally-trained players - 8 out of 25)'; the 'Commission supports the licensing systems (the football licensing systems which will be introduced for European competitions)'; and 'the Commission announces it will increase its efforts to fight human trafficking and will take additional initiatives against racism and the use of doping.' Belet is disappointed that the Commission has not done more to introduce clear rules for players' agents, only carrying out a study on the matter: 'A missed chance, especially since football recently suffered from a great deal of scandals involving players' agents,' added Belet. The EP asked 'for a much clearer signal… on the sale of TV rights… The financial race that increases the gap between the large, rich clubs and smaller, not so wealthy ones needs to stop. This can only be done by opting for the collective selling of TV rights.' He hoped that the White Paper was 'only a first step in the direction of more solidarity. 'Hopefully the new reform treaty (containing an explicit paragraph on sports) will provide us with a new opportunity to realise further steps which can lead to more solidarity in the field of sports…. Sports fans do not want to see their sports ruined by purely commercial interests.'
In a press release, British Conservative MEP Chris Heaton-Harris takes a tougher line, saying that 'this White Paper comes at completely the wrong time and in the wrong context. When the Commission started this process, the EU had absolutely no competence in sport and the language in the White Paper reflects this. Now, however, sport is one of the many areas that sneaked into the European constitution, which moves the legal goalposts. Understandably, many people involved in the world of sport are now concerned that this White Paper is too weak in some areas, and too vague in others. Politicians should not be interfering in sport, but as the EU seems determined to do it, it is essential that sporting organisations are involved at every stage.' (il)