WRITTEN QUESTION P-1900/02

by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 June 2002)

Subject: 2002 World Cup

The honour and pride of various European countries taking part in the World Cup have been undermined by the incompetence and lack of professionalism shown by some referees.

The mistakes made by referees can severely damage the economic interests of legal persons operating in the football sector, and even cause them to go bankrupt.

The World Cup, a major sporting event organised by FIFA, does not afford the necessary guarantees of credibility and reliability.

Given that it is a body governed by private law which has its headquarters in Switzerland, FIFA does not have the international representativeness required to organise an event of this kind.

The principle of internal democracy which, particularly in national and international sporting bodies, needs to be strengthened, is far from properly applied within the organisation run by FIFA.

Throughout its long history as the governing body of world football, FIFA has shown that it is averse to any interference in its management and control procedures.

The economic interests involved in football today are so immense that they give rise to enormous powers.

International sporting bodies such as FIFA are today protected by rigid hierarchical structures made up of persons who, backed up by the huge economic influence they exert, are determined to remain in the positions they have occupied for decades.

Given the above:

- would the Commission state whether the current hierarchical structure of European sport is still legally admissible, or whether the European Union should take action to bring about change?

- does it consider it appropriate to promote the setting up an alternative international sporting body to organise and manage European and international football tournaments (something which the European Parliament recommended in September 2000, in a report on sport)?

- can it approach the Member States with a view to ensuring that their national sporting bodies leave FIFA and join another organisation?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2002)

The Commission would like to reiterate the value it attaches to the principle of the autonomy of sporting organisations. Its approach is reflected in the Helsinki Report on Sport(1), in which it emphasises the central role of sports federations and expresses the view that the integrity and autonomy of sport must be preserved.

In the Nice declaration(2) of December 2000 on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account should be taken in implementing common policies, the European Council agreed with this principle, stressing its support for the independence of sports organisations and their right to organise themselves through appropriate associative structures. It recognised the fact that it is the task of sports organisations, with due regard for national and Community legislation and on the basis of a democratic and transparent method of operation, to organise and promote their particular sports, particularly as regards the specifically sporting rules applicable and the make-up of national teams, in the way which they think best reflects their objectives.

Summing up, the Commission does not have any other powers to intervene in discussions on the autonomy of sport and the organisation of major competitions. This includes mistakes which might be made by referees. Nor is it the Commission's task to encourage the creation of a new international sporting body or to ask Member States to adopt a specific position with regard to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Finally, the Commission would like to make the point that in the document entitled The European model of sport(3), it emphasised the pyramid structure of sport as one of the model's main characteristics. However, the Commission is not responsible for either protecting or abolishing this model.

(1) Report from the Commission to the European Council with a view to safeguarding current sports structures and maintaining the social function of sport within the Community framework The Helsinki Report on Sport COM(1999) 644 final.

(2) Presidency conclusions Nice European Council 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 Annex IV: Declaration on the specific characteristics of sport and its social function in Europe, of which account should be taken in implementing common policies.

(3) The European model of sport, consultation document from the Directorate-General for Education and Culture, November 1998.