FIFA welcomes new European Parliament report on sport
23 Nov 2021
The document addresses key topics such as good governance, security, inclusion and anti-discrimination
FIFA transfer system reform recognized as improving governance and integrity
FIFA welcomed the report on European Union sports policy, prepared by Tomasz Frankowski – MEP and former professional footballer – and adopted today by the European Parliament in plenary session. This book will be essential in defining European sports policy in the years to come. In line with the reform of the transfer system currently being carried out by FIFA, the document recalls the need to « regulate the activities of agents » and recognizes the importance of recent changes, in particular « the creation of a clearing house, licensing requirements for agents and capping agents’ commissions. » « The European Parliament report confirms that FIFA’s efforts to reform the transfer system are not only going in the right direction, but are essential in shaping the football of tomorrow, which must be based on the principles of good governance and solidarity for all stakeholders, ”commented Emilio García Silvero, Director of FIFA’s Legal and Compliance Division. « The reform of the transfer system, approved by major political players, is perfectly in line with FIFA’s desire to modernize the regulatory framework for football, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability around the world. »
Political actors support the reform of the transfer systemThis report from the European Parliament follows the publication of a Council of Europe report last June, which welcomed FIFA’s initiatives to reform the transfer system and declared that the FIFA Clearing House, soon to be operational , was « an important step towards a more complete, transparent and honest transfer system for footballers around the world. » FIFA’s efforts in this area are also supported by several other entities, including the G20 anti-corruption working group and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
FIFA faces a « deep imbalance »As Gianni Infantino, the FIFA President, pointed out at the 71st FIFA Congress, there is still a deep imbalance in the world of football: the amounts invested in player transfers (USD 7 billion in 2019) are not reflected in the compensation paid to training clubs (USD 70 million in 2019), which is much lower than the commissions received by agents (USD 700 million, still in 2019). To remedy this, the FIFA Clearinghouse must channel the payment of training compensation and solidarity contributions, which could increase the above mentioned sum to USD 300 million per year. Since 2017, and in line with the FIFA President’s Vision 2020-2023: Making Football Truly Global, the governing body of world football has taken important steps towards establishing a more fair and transparent transfer system. , the FIFA Council having approved three sets of reforms. An overview of the main achievements related to the reform of the transfer system is available here. In terms of good governance and integrity, the report highlights « reforms and measures aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the player transfer market for all sports » and underlines the importance of » continued efforts in this area. »
Prevention
The report also calls on the actors concerned to give priority to policies focused on prevention in favor of the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, as well as the establishment of safe, inclusive and equitable sporting activities. « We validate the principles of the report and take particular note of the European Parliament’s call to protect children against all forms of violence in sport, » said Joyce Cook, Director of FIFA’s Social Responsibility and Education Division. . « We already launched the FIFA Guardians ™ program in 2019 to strengthen protection measures for vulnerable children and adults in football, and we are now behind the initiative to create an international, independent body, multisport and multi-institutional with the aim of helping the judicial bodies of the world of sport to apprehend and appropriately manage cases of mistreatment. We are ready to work with the European institutions within the framework of this project « , he added. she adds.
