Groupe de l'Alliance Progressiste des Socialistes & Démocrates
"Football stands for fair play and brotherhood, but is currently also the playing field of criminal organisations operating on an international scale. Criminals are targeting players, clubs, and sports organisations for purposes of match fixing and corruption. Also the trade in young players, even though prohibited, remains a lucrative business. These are both real problems which need a European approach to tackle them. However the first proposals for a completely new European sport policy are lacking any vigour", says Emine Bozkurt, Social Democrat MEP and rapporteur on sport for the Civil Liberties and Justice Committee.
The European Parliament will be discussing the set up of a European Sport Policy today during the plenary session. Since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the EU has obtained competence in the field of sport, however after seeing the first proposals by the European Commission and hearing the first conclusions of the Sport Council, Bozkurt says the overall feeling is rather disappointing.
The European Parliament will be discussing the set up of a European Sport Policy today during the plenary session. Since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty the EU has obtained competence in the field of sport, however after seeing the first proposals by the European Commission and hearing the first conclusions of the Sport Council, Bozkurt says the overall feeling is rather disappointing.
"Take for instance the trade in young players. According to FIFA statistics there have been in 2010 more than 1100 "exceptions" where minors have been transferred. How can 1100 minors all be exceptions? In order to protect minors, the European Commission has promised legislation to deal with player's agents. Unfortunately, we are still waiting for it. What we need, are professional standards, a code of conduct accompanied by sanctions and a European black list, as soon as possible."
Additionally, MEP Bozkurt believes there is a lack of concrete measures to deal with corruption in sports organisations and match fixing. "Criminals are operating across borders and we need to do the same if we really want to tackle fraud in sport. Sport fraud should be defined in criminal law across all EU Members States and sports organisations should work closely together with Europol and Eurojust to tackle this type of crime."
To conclude, MEP Bozkurt is convinced that a European approach of tackling racism and discrimination in sport is necessary. According to UEFA there have been 25 racist incidents on the highest level of football last year and there have been 14 incidents reported halfway through the current season. "Clubs and associations need to make credible efforts to protect their players against discrimination. Anti-discrimination laws need to be put into practice. The EU must show leadership in combating discrimination and needs to do this through targeted campaigns which make clear that discrimination is unacceptable."
Emine Bozkurt will on behalf of the Civil Liberties and Justice Committee keep on pressing for concrete steps towards a European sport policy.
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'New European Sport Policy lacks decisiveness,' says Emine Bozkurt, Netherlands S&D MEP. Criminals are targeting players, clubs, and sports organisations for purposes of match fixing and corruption. Also the trade in young players, even though prohibited, remains a lucrative business.
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