letter to the editor from Richard Corbett MEP |
|
07 August 2007 |
|
The Daily Telegraph |
|
Dear Editor, If Kate Hoey were a footballer, I'd imagine she'd be a striker rolling around in feigned agony after the merest of touches from a defender, if her over-reaction to the European Commission's White Paper on Sport is anything to go by. The purpose of the White Paper, as Hoey correctly points out, is to help construct a clearer legal framework for sports governing bodies but it is absurd to claim that this means that the EU is trying to take control of sports, signalling the “beginning of the end of autonomy for the nation state on sporting matters.” Rather, the EU is actually trying to define a space for sporting authorities to govern their sport without fear of falling foul of existing EU economic rules on competition policy, non-discrimination on grounds of nationality, etc. It represents a lessening of EU influence, in that sport would be exempted from the full force of common market rules. Heaven knows there is need for more clarity if we are to avoid sporting matters being settled in courts instead of on the pitch. The confusion over Carlos Tevez and the relegation of Sheffield United are prime examples, where decisions of the Premier League, the FA and UEFA are challenged by lawsuits, claims and counter claims. By putting in place a proper legal framework, the Commission merely wants to make clear who is in charge of sport (so for football UEFA in Europe, the FA and Premier League in England), so that disputes can be dealt with internally without recourse to costly, drawn-out battles in court rooms. And, as to this being a reason to oppose the proposed Reform Treaty, the contrary is true. The special needs of sports would be acknowledged in an article recognising the specificity of sports, making it easier to exempt sports from EU rules. Yours, Labour MEP for Yorkshire & Humber |
|