Parliament calls for action to achieve a better European Sport Model

Ensure good governance with appropriate checks and balances for accountability

Evaluate the impact of foreign investment and multi-ownership on financial integrity European sport

Strengthen the link between professional and amateur sport for a fairer allocation of resources

MEPs want athletes and fans to have a say on the decision-making process of sports federations, and they are opposed to competitive matches being played abroad.

In its contribution to the Commission’s new long-term strategy for European sport and physical activity policy, adopted in plenary by 552 votes with 52 against and 35 abstentions, the European Parliament asks all international and national organisations to improve their governance and transparency, and ensure accountability.

MEPs want international and national federations, clubs and leagues, to involve fans, athletes, and persons with disabilities in their decisions. They also want them to address “the persistent under representation of women in leadership positions”

Identifying threats to the European model

In addition to the current challenges, such as “problems of governance, corruption, match-fixing, doping, online piracy and discrimination”, and “excessive commercialisation”, MEPs want the Commission to monitor possible new threats to Europe’s sports sector. Particularly, they want the Commission to evaluate the impact of increased foreign investment and multi-ownership of clubs on the financial integrity and competitive balance of European sport. They also want sports clubs and federations to avoid organising domestic competitive matches played abroad and state that clubs should be required to release athletes for national team participation.

MEPs also call on the Commission to provide clear guidelines on how EU law applies to the sports sector, taking into consideration recent European Court of Justice rulings on athlete’s rights and competition law.

Protect the rights of athletes and ensuring financial solidarity

To help athletes overcome challenges such as insufficient social protection, rising intensity of sports and of sporting calendars, as well as help them to better combine education or employment with their careers, MEPs highlighted the need for a stronger defence of the rights of athletes across all sports, with particular attention to minors.

As the gap between the financial elite in professional sport and the grassroots level grows, MEPs ask the Commission to map existing financial solidarity mechanisms and redistribution schemes and to explore the creation of redistribution mechanisms between big and small leagues, clubs or competitions and in different disciplines. Finally, MEPs ask the Commission “to develop accessible and substantial funding schemes for sports clubs and organisations, with clear and accessible mechanisms, ensuring that earmarked funds reach the grassroots level”. Recognising the impact of Erasmus+ in supporting grassroots sports organisations and the citizens, the Parliament asks for a significant increase in funding for sport and physical activity, under this programme.

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“These challenges affect many sporting disciplines, and their scale and complexity is growing, thereby testing the resilience of the ‘European Sport Model’. This report serves as a call to action. Its timing is critical, as the European Commission is preparing to present its long-term strategy for European sports policy next year. Promoting and supporting sport at all levels is essential - not only for the success of professional competitions but also for fostering a healthier, more active society,” said the rapporteur, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski.

Background

On 18 March 2025, the European Parliament held a consultation with the European Committee of the Regions, sports federations, teams, and many other organisations. The consultation garnered useful information to help frame the European Sports Model. Contributing 2.12% to the EU’s GDP and providing jobs to nearly six million people, sport sector faces growing challenges that test the resilience of the European Sport Model.