FIFA and UEFA: Is their autonomy curtailed by the EU?

Fri, Apr 24, 2015 14:58 CET

FIFA and UEFA are considered by many as influential and supremely powerful forces in the world of football. Their authority in the footballing sphere has placed them seemingly beyond regulation from outside. The European Commission states that autonomy of sporting organisations is conditional to good governance; FIFA and UEFA have both been under the microscope, is their long enjoyed sovereignty under threat? This article in Journal of European Public Policy examines tensions between the EU, FIFA and UEFA and defines how and to what degree the EU controls the football giants.

Geeraert & Drieskens draw on EU documents, stakeholder interviews and past research to illustrate how the EU has used law and sporting policy routes to monitor, sanction and steer the actions of FIFA and UEFA. EU law has influenced player transfer procedures, sales of match media rights and ticket availability for fans. Likewise EU sporting policy has given influence to fight match-fixing and doping and to monitor sports agents and transfer rules. So with the ‘shadow of hierarchy’ looming over FIFA and UEFA, how do they mitigate?

It is not all bad news; FIFA and UEFA have quickly recognised the benefits of an EU relationship based on goodwill. The Commission are more likely to be lenient with EU footballing law in light of cooperation. The Commission also strives to foster social dialogue in professional football, bring in finance, support projects and connect stakeholders. Indeed the combined efforts of the Commission, FIFA and UEFA have guaranteed European minimum standards for footballing contracts, a definite plus.

FIFA and UEFA have developed methods of modifying EU control; expansion of sports arbitration to defer EU jurisprudence, empowering football principals in strategic committees and councils for decision making. They also have the power to withhold rights for countries to participate in or host important footballing events, a threat to the Commission and a means to ensuring weight of government support against them.

In conclusion, the authors observe the EU and Commission as agents in international football “indeed have the capacity to

curtail FIFA and UEFA’s autonomy…Yet…the Commission never truly operates autonomously of the member states and…the Parliament”. It seems the EU, FIFA and UEFA are a case of swings and roundabouts.

NOTE TO JOURNALISTS

statement:

* Read the full article online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13501763.2015.1022206

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