A delegation from FIFPRO Europe met with the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, in Brussels to discuss the 2024-2029 institutional term, including key priorities to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Europe’s football industry.
The FIFPRO Europe delegation was led by President David Terrier (also President of French player union UNFP), accompanied by MFPA General Secretary Carlo Mamo and Portuguese player union President Joaquim Evangelista.
The meeting took place at a crucial time for European football and EU Sport Policy following a range of decisions by the European Court of Justice and ongoing litigation that affect the rights and wellbeing of players, as well as the football sector in Europe and beyond.
The meeting focused on collaborative approaches to advance the competitiveness and resilience of men’s professional football in a global context, which stands as one of Europe’s largest cultural and entertainment sectors.
“Today’s discussion reinforces our commitment to a football economy that works for everyone,” said Terrier. “We believe that strengthening the role of social partners and respecting collective agreements is essential for a sustainable and competitive European football industry that is built on a social contract between national and international competitions.”
Key topics discussed during the meeting included:
- Strengthening the European Sport Model through robust social dialogue mechanisms and collective agreements that protect the rights and wellbeing of players as workers in the Single Market.
- Establishing comprehensive occupational health and safety frameworks, tailored to the men’s football industry that protect player wellbeing and address the growing holistic workload demands on players, including match congestion, travel, and minimal rest and recovery time.
- The urgent need to improve governance in international football, tailored to the football sector and in line with EU policies and EU law.
- Addressing precarious employment conditions that still exist across the sector, particularly the problem of overdue payables, access to independent and swift justice, and insufficient social protections.
- The growing importance of innovation and technology in football, with specific attention to the protection and use of players’ personal data and the application of artificial intelligence at work.
The Commissioner and FIFPRO Europe also agreed to continue discussions on women’s football. As the women’s football industry continues to rapidly develop in Europe, acknowledging the differences between the two labour markets and their distinct needs becomes critical to innovate the European Sport Model – such as the focus on competitiveness, professional standards, and specific female health, performance and wellbeing priorities.
Micallef said: “I’m a staunch defender of our European Sport Model. It is based on values and the principles of solidarity between the professional and grassroots levels, openness, and sporting merit. Governance methods must be improved, and they must become more inclusive.
“We need to further pursue high standards of integrity at all levels, and they should be considered as a duty for governing bodies. Athletes and players are the real backbone of the sport movement, they have a set of rights and responsibilities and the European Commission promotes and protects both their physical and moral integrity.”
Both parties stressed the need for political solutions and committed to continued cooperation to ensure that professional football in Europe maintains its leadership position while advancing player rights, social dialogue, collective governance, and sustainable growth.