FIFPRO Europe holds high-level meeting with the European Commission on employment and quality jobs in professional football

• The meeting addressed concern over activities that lead to undermining player unions, freedom of association and legitimate worker representation
• European Commission and FIFPRO Europe reaffirm social dialogue and social partner agreements as the cornerstone of labour relations in professional football
• Exchanges emphasised the specific role of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue to steer employment related matters affecting the largest employment market for professional footballers in the world

A delegation from FIFPRO Europe held a high-level meeting yesterday with the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG Employment) of the European Commission. The meeting was led by the Director-General of DG Employment and attended by representatives from the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), alongside a FIFPRO Europe delegation including Spyros Neofytides, Vice President of FIFPRO Europe and Joachim Walltin, Secretary-General, FIFPRO Europe.

Employment Matters and Quality jobs 

The discussions centred on employment matters and the advancement of quality jobs in the European professional football industry — the largest employment market for professional footballers in the world. Participants addressed how the sector can maintain and strengthen employment standards and competitiveness in a global context, including minimum requirements on occupational health and safety, contractual protections, and player welfare.

Fundamental role of social dialogue and social partner agreements in the European football sector 

Both delegations underlined the fundamental role of social dialogue and social partner agreements in shaping labour regulations that directly affect the European football sector. The decisions impacting players' employment conditions must be developed through legitimate, representative, and transparent processes involving recognised social partners.

Addressing mutual concerns over activities that are designed to undermine legitimate player representation

The meeting also addressed current activities that are designed to undermine freedom of association and legitimate player representation — a matter of serious concern under EU law, ILO conventions, and the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Both delegations committed to address activities that enhance the European Sectoral Social Dialogue and agreed to actively promote social dialogue and social partner agreements as the appropriate framework for addressing employment conditions in professional football.

In this context, participants referenced the recent ILO sectoral guidelines on sport, which reinforce the right to organise and the centrality of collective bargaining in the sector as well as occupational health and safety as a priority area for the sector.

Strong development of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee

Participants highlighted the strong development of the European Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Professional Football, chaired by UEFA, under its current workplan and welcomed the recent announcement of a FIFPRO Europe representative joining the UEFA Executive Committee as a landmark development towards more inclusive governance of the sport.

Both delegations agreed on the importance of ensuring that labour relations and employment matters feature prominently in the upcoming European Commission Communication on Sport, led by Commissioner Micallef and DG EAC.