FIFPro Division Europe consists of 24 member associations. There is one candidate member (Serbia) and there are four observers (Georgia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro and Ukraine). The division board is led by president Philippe Piat, the other members of the board are Mads Øland, Bobby Barnes, Maria Tsigoni Rella, Joachim Evangelista y Tony Higgins. 

On Division Europe’s priority list are a number of important topics. On a political level FIFPro mostly focuses on the applicability of European law. But with almost every political issue concerned, FIFPro has noticed some friction with regard to the current European legislation. The question that continuously has to be addressed is the extent to which European legislation can be departed from because this is demanded by the specific characteristics of the sport.

The Bosman decision showed that European law is applicable in full to professional football. This was accepted by FIFA and the FIFA regulations were amended in consultation with the European Commission. It is important to see that the Commission accepted that a number of exceptions to general European legislation are permissible, because of the specific characteristics of professional football as a business sector. These exceptions are the three-year stability period; the transfer periods; and the training compensation.

A number of parties seem not to understand, or not to want to understand, that these exceptions are the limits to the departures from European law. The European Commission decided to go that far and no further, therefore. It is essential for the FIFPro that this message is communicated continually, since it supports the basic principle that a professional footballer is an employee like any other, although the specific characteristics of that employment contract are taken into account. The limits of this, however, are enshrined in law. A side effect of the modification of the FIFA regulations in line with European law is that the ensuing benefits for players currently apply all over the world.

The completion of the Social Dialogue in the form of a European collective agreement should also receive the required priority. A major step has already been taken in terms of content by the introduction of the Minimum Requirements, but the introduction of these in the countries where they are most needed still leaves something to be desired, however. A collective agreement offers improved options of doing this, not only because of UEFA’s involvement in the process, but also because the Social Dialogue is an excellent forum for discussing various problems in professional football with the parties concerned.

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