Let Us Play! 2
Posted by devo on May 2, 2008
Correspondent Mark pointed out this article. It’s about football, but the same rules apply:
The European Commission has warned Fifa, the game’s world governing body, not to seek “gentleman’s agreements” to limit foreign players at clubs … “EU laws are superior to any such gentleman’s agreements,” an official at the EU executive familiar with the matter said. “I would advise Fifa to think carefully and maybe to think twice about such a move.” … Football’s European governing body, Uefa, has also warned Blatter over his proposals, which conflict with EU laws on the free movement of workers, pointing out that any move to outflank Brussels could potentially lead to widespread legal actions. more The Independant
Mark comments that Dr Acosta’s response to the EU regulations seems to be – “We have a full understanding of the European laws, but we believe that sport is not a matter of labour.” more
It may be a footballer that takes the first step in court that will decide who is right on this issue. Is sport work, or is it entertainment? The guys grinding out on the practice court 5 hours a day would certainly call it work.
