Professional football
| Workers’ representatives |
International Organisation of Professional Football Players’ Associations – Division Europe (FIFPro) (1968)
|
| Employers’ representatives |
European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) (2005)
http://www.epfl-europeanleagues.com/
|
| European Club Association (ECA) (2008) (formerly Forum of European Clubs (2002)) established and managed by UEFA)
|
Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee (SSDC)
| Informal working group: |
|
| SSDC: |
1 July 2008 (36th sector) |
| Rules of procedure: |
1 July 2008 |
| Work programme: |
2008-2009 |
General overview
Many aspects of sporting activity, and more specifically of football, are covered by Community law: competition rules, freedom of movement, subsidies, broadcasting of TV images, etc. In 1995 the Bosman affair marked a major turning-point in the relationship between “employers” (clubs) and “workers” (players) in this sector.
Participants and challenges
Although it is still too soon to be able to assess the social dialogue in this sector, the minimum requirements applicable to professional players’ contracts have already become an important subject of debate. The social partners’ long-term aim is to reach agreement on minimum standards in areas such as health and safety, sickness insurance, education for young players, image rights, etc.
Outcomes
The launch of the SSDC in the football sector is still too recent for a valid assessment to be made of it. The rules of procedure constitute the only text adopted so far.
Joint texts
The “professional football” sectoral social dialogue has resulted, since 2008, in the adoption of 1 joint text.
ETUI and Observatoire Social Européen (2010) European Sectoral Social Dialogue Factsheets. Project coordinated by Christophe Degryse, online publication available at www.worker-participation.eu/EU-Social-Dialogue/Sectoral-ESD
