Ec Publishes White Paper On Sport

The European Commission has published its much-vaunted White Paper on Sport
outlining the future of European government’s role in regulating sport.

The EC paper decreed that sport should only have limited immunity from rules
governing the European Union internal market and advocated a greater involvement
in the future.

The White Paper, in which the recently departed UK Minister for Sport Richard
Caborn was heavily involved, has been many months in the making and has divided
opinion in the sporting world, in particular football.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said politicians should leave sport ‘in
peace’ while his European counterpart UEFA has described the white paper as a
big step forward.

The White Paper outlines the EU’s role in a number of different sectors
within sport including media rights, player quotas and racism.

Initial reaction to the paper seemed to be one of disappointment with the
document still failing to provide any clear guidelines as to the EU’s role in
sports governance particular on the issue of sports agents.

The EC announced in the paper that it has commissioned a study to assess
whether legislation is needed to govern the activities of these agents within
the EU and would await the outcome of its findings before making a decision.

The role of the EU on media rights was more outlined in a more forthright
manner however with Sport Commissioner Jan Figel recommending a ‘case-by-case
approach’ to decide whether sporting regulations are compatible with EU law.

The White Paper also avoided making a blanket recommendation on the sale of
media rights, saying that they can be sold by individual clubs, or by sport
associations.

As a summary, the European Commission’s White Paper stated that sport
accounted for 3.7% of EU GDP in 2004, generating £275bn and providing 15 million
jobs. Consequently the EC needed a greater role in regulating such a thriving
industry.

FIFA and the IOC were quick to express their disappointment with the White
Paper, issuing a statement that read: ‘Whilst the White Paper contains certain
positive elements (regarding, for example, the recognition that national teams
play an essential role across all sports in terms of identity and financial
solidarity), we are disappointed that the EU has not reached firmer conclusions
with regard to some of the key issues facing sport today, thus contributing to
its future healthy development.’