The European Parliament has taken a stand against the Superliga project promoted by Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Juventus and warns in a report about the “threat” posed by models that “pursue a purely business vision in sport” .
The speaker of the report approved by the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture, Tomasz Frankowski, blames the business model he considers promoting the Super League because it is based on “elite club” competition and points out that “Sport is a right for everyone.”
In contrast to what he understands that promotes this model exposes the need for MEPs to defend another values-based for future generations.
In fact, the report aims to encourage competitions based on values such as solidarity, sustainability, inclusion, open competition and equity, and criticizes formulas that are based on ‘breakaway competitions’, an expression that alludes to ‘dissident competitions’, in reference to the Superliga defended by some of the most powerful clubs in Europe.
MEPs call for a balance to be struck between the commercial interests of professional sport and its social functions, which would be achieved by strengthening the links between grassroots level and elite sport. The report cites as an example that sports federations should establish a solidarity mechanism to channel funds towards amateur and grassroots sport.
MEPs also want to address gender inequality in sport, in particular with regard to remuneration and equitable representation on the boards of directors of sports organizations, and argue that the European media should ensure more equitable coverage of sporting events. of men and women.
“We need greater EU political participation in sport and more sports funding. Our main task as MEPs is to improve and protect a values-based sports model in Europe for the next generation. We must work together against the forces that threaten this model and seek to undermine it with a purely lucrative view of sport. That is why we are against a closed Super League of elite clubs in European football “, argues the speaker, Tomasz Frankowski.
The document adopted by the European Parliament committee also recommends protecting children from abuse and harassment in sport, including by providing advice and protection at state and EU level; more transparency in player transfer markets through an EU framework for player transfers that includes labor market rules and EU financial regulations, and using the ’50 + 1 ‘ownership rule German football clubs (private investors can only hold up to 49% of the shares) as a best practice for other countries.
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