By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – The main stakeholders in European football have joined forces to tighten up the rules over contracts for professional players.
The Association of European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), the European Club Association (ECA) and FIFPro – the international players union – have signed an agreement on minimum requirements for contracts after years of concern that employment regulations in some countries were far too loose.
The agreement, signed in Brussels with the support of UEFA who approved it at its recent Congress in Istanbul, sets out minimum requirements for players’ contracts in order to protect both players and clubs, safeguard player welfare and ultimately improve good governance.
Under the accord, the first of its kind in Europe involving team sports and directed mainly at Eastern Europe, contracts must be in writing; define the basic rights and duties of club and player; address matters such as salary, health insurance, vacations etc; and contain provisions on any disputes.
“Today is a historic day for European professional football,” said EPFL chief executive Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros (pictured).
“Mutual respect of contract leads to greater integrity of the competition and this is key to success on the field and long-term financial stability.”
UEFA President Michel Platini said: “It is a pleasure to have the European football family united around the same table, speaking with a united voice.”
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